In a significant and controversial development, the United States military has reportedly apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This operation has ignited sharp responses from several notable US politicians who have expressed deep concerns regarding the legality, transparency, and consequences of the action.
Senator Bernie Sanders, independent from Vermont, utilized social media platform X to articulate strong opposition to President Donald Trump's handling of the situation. Sanders asserted that the President does not possess the constitutional authority to unilaterally initiate military action or war against another nation, regardless of the target's political standing. Emphasizing adherence to legal frameworks, Sanders condemned the incursion as a breach of international law. He called upon the administration to refocus on pressing domestic issues instead of engaging in foreign military interventions.
Further scrutiny came from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who criticized the operation as both unlawful and ill-advised. Harris challenged the official narrative framing the action as targeting drug trafficking or promoting democracy. Instead, she characterized the move as motivated by interests in Venezuelan oil resources and President Trump's desire to project strength, all conducted without a clear strategy for withdrawal or long-term stabilization.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York delivered a formal statement expressing disapproval and concern over the conduct and messaging of the administration. He highlighted that the White House had previously assured him on three separate occasions that it was not pursuing regime change or engaging in military action within Venezuela. The episode, he stated, undermines trust in the administration's transparency toward the American people. On platform X, Schumer echoed Senator Sanders’ worry that plans to seize control over Venezuela’s governance represent a perilous path that should alarm citizens, recalling historical instances where such unilateral interventions resulted in detrimental outcomes for the US populace.
Adding to the domestic critique, Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City, denounced the detention of Maduro as an act tantamount to warfare against a sovereign nation. Mamdani underscored that this breach of both US federal and international law bears direct ramifications for the city’s large Venezuelan community, highlighting the broader social and diplomatic repercussions of the military action.
On the Venezuelan side, government officials vehemently repudiated the US' account of events, labeling the operation an infringement on national sovereignty and a