State and federal lawmakers react to U.S. striking Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro’s capture
(KYMA, NBC) - Lawmakers across the United States are sharing their reaction to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a large-scale strike against the country.
The Pentagon says President Donald Trump gave the order to arrest President Maduro just before 11:00 a.m. Friday.
Troops from 20 military bases and 150 U.S. aircraft took part in the mission, which saw an elite strike force arrive at President Maduro's compound around 1:00 a.m. Saturday.
"This mission was meticulously planned, drawing lessons from decades of missions over the last many years," said General Dan Caine, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Venezuelans around the world took to the streets to celebrate the end of Maduro's reign, with Nicole Reinoso, Councilwoman for the City of Doral, Florida saying, "Everybody's just happy, because everybody has been waiting for for democracy and change in Venezuela."
However, on Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats and some Republicans are demanding answers from the Trump Administration about why they were kept in the dark, with many calling the military mission "illegal."
"Now they're saying they're going to occupy a foreign country. We're going to run it from the United States, and that we're going to steal their oil. In what world did this administration get any of that permission ever for them to do that," said Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
Sen. Gallego further shared his thoughts, in a post on X, saying in part, "I lived through the consequences of an illegal war sold to the American people with lies. We swore we would never repeat those mistakes. Yet here we are again."
Gallego's colleague, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), released a statement sharing his reaction to the Venezuelan strikes and Maduro's arrest saying:
"The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation. He said that the U.S. will "run the country" until a proper transition can take place and went right into how U.S. oil companies will benefit from this takeover. He doesn't understand the risks and costs involved with these poorly thought-out decisions that don't make Americans any safer today than they were yesterday.
Nicolás Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator who deserves to face justice. I want the people of Venezuela to be free to choose their own future, but if we learned anything from the Iraq War, it's that dropping bombs or toppling a leader doesn't guarantee democracy, stability, or make Americans safer. More often, it leads to chaos or drags the U.S. into a war and lengthy occupation. I don't trust that this administration has a plan, timeline, or price tag for what comes next.
Over the past year, Trump's foreign policy has been reckless, chaotic, self-serving, and unconstitutional. Congress should vote this week to reassert its authority on behalf of the American people before he oversteps again. I also want to recognize the professionalism and skill of the American service members involved in this operation. While I don't agree with the administration's justification for this, I'm thankful that no service members were killed or seriously injured."
Other lawmakers also shared their reaction to the strikes in Venezuela and Maduro's arrest:
My statement on Trump’s actions in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/AjEzzsegYC
— Rep. Adelita Grijalva (@Rep_Grijalva) January 3, 2026
President Trump is a decisive and strong leader who does EXACTLY what he says he’s going to do.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 3, 2026
During his historic campaign in 2024, President Trump explicitly promised that he would work to “demolish foreign drug cartels” to keep our citizens safe and that’s exactly what he… pic.twitter.com/2oz4rEwLfn
Last night, Donald Trump carried out yet another illegal act of war in Venezuela, capturing the country’s illegitimate and brutal dictator, Nicolas Maduro. This is action that Congress did not authorize and the American people did not ask for. It is a profound abuse of power by…
— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) January 3, 2026
God bless America, and all those who defend Her. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jHQ3KXANcg
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) January 3, 2026
Trump just made it clear that the only reason he started this illegal war against Venezuela is to make oil companies and his billionaire friends richer. He literally said that he wants oil companies to help “run” Venezuela.
— Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (@RepRaulRuizMD) January 3, 2026
Trump’s abuse of power to benefit himself and his…
I’ve served on the Homeland Security Committee for the past three years. I’m 100% for strong safe secure borders and stopping narco terrorists and cartels from trafficking deadly drugs and human trafficking into America.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 3, 2026
Fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of U.S. drug…
President Trump just bombed Venezuela and arrested its leader without any explanation to the American people and without authorization from Congress.
— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) January 3, 2026
Americans do not want another foreign regime change war launched in secret and without accountability. And Trump is setting an…
While I don’t have all the data that our decision makers have, I can say that without an act of war declared by Congress I disagree with the capturing of another world leader & the bombing his country. https://t.co/qWfLsRsnCt
— Nick Kupper (@realnickkupper) January 3, 2026
Let’s be absolutely clear: Trump’s military action in Venezuela is unlawful without approval from Congress.
— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) January 3, 2026
There’s no clear objective, no endgame, and no plan for what comes next. This is a dangerous recipe for chaos in the region.
And while he escalates conflicts abroad,…
I have spoken in the last several hours with @SecRubio and @SecWar Hegseth, and the nation will hear from @POTUS in his address at 11am ET.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 3, 2026
Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives.
Nicolas Maduro is…
Donald Trump betrayed his MAGA base today launching a war of choice to bring regime change in Venezuela.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 3, 2026
We keep voting against dumb wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, & Libya.
But our Presidents bow to a foreign policy blob committed to militarism. They get us entangled in conflicts…
Maduro was a brutal socialist dictator who oppressed his people to enrich himself and his cronies. Venezuela, once prosperous, has suffered years of repression and decline as he spread chaos across our hemisphere.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 3, 2026
His regime also kept the Cuban dictatorship afloat with stolen…
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 3, 2026
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs.
President Trump took bold and decisive action today. His brilliant decision to have the brave members of our War department execute a dramatic operation to seize international narco terrorist Nicholas Maduro has made America safer and stronger than ever.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 3, 2026
President Trump has… pic.twitter.com/OP6c8MqqBI
Statement in connection with the Trump Administration military actions in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/n74tdiNDtg
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) January 3, 2026
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, l am grateful for our brave troops, intelligence officers, and law enforcement who ensured a successful military operation in Venezuela leading to the arrest and indictment of the…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 3, 2026
For years, Nicolas Maduro, the cartel he leads, and other cartels in Latin America have trafficked drugs into the United States, which have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro,…
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) January 3, 2026
My full statement on the Trump Administration’s military actions in Venezuela: pic.twitter.com/eqYE4t9K7J
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 3, 2026
Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country. But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further…
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) January 3, 2026
I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026
Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and…
Some politicians talk. President Trump acts.
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) January 3, 2026
This is a huge win in the war on drugs here at home and in the fight for freedom worldwide. https://t.co/7Ro44xwfPR
Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country. But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further…
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) January 3, 2026
Maduro is a thug, and the hemisphere would be safer without this lackey of Iran, Russia, and China in power. @POTUS has broad constitutional authority and long historical precedent for the limited use of military force, and I’m grateful to the U.S. personnel who carried out…
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) January 3, 2026
Today, many leaders will rightly condemn President Donald Trump’s unlawful and unjust actions in Venezuela, and I join them.
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) January 3, 2026
But just as glaring, and far more damning, is Congress’ ongoing abdication of its constitutional duty. For almost a year now, the legislative branch has…
Nicolas Maduro is a narco-terrorist and international drug trafficker who has been indicted twice in U.S. courts and who should stand trial in this country.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) January 3, 2026
I was personally briefed by Secretary Rubio this morning. While there is still much we don’t know, this mission appears…
Venezuela is ruled by an illegitimate regime, but the Administration has not made the case that an urgent threat to America’s national security existed to justify the use of U.S. military force.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 3, 2026
President Trump has made no secret of his intentions to effectively abolish the…
For years the people of Venezuela have suffered under the socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro enduring deprivation and violence as his tyranny, drug-trafficking and corruption dominated this once prosperous country. Now, thanks to the decisive leadership of President Donald…
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 3, 2026
Grateful for our U.S. military personnel that handled these orders in Venezuela with precision.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 3, 2026
I maintain that we have the STRONGEST and MOST LETHAL military in the world—today proves that even more. 🇺🇸
Just got off the phone with @SecRubio
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant… https://t.co/lXCxhPoKSZ
Venezuela is ruled by an illegitimate regime, but the Administration has not made the case that an urgent threat to America’s national security existed to justify the use of U.S. military force.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 3, 2026
President Trump has made no secret of his intentions to effectively abolish the…
When you funnel drugs and chaos into American streets, you should face justice. Today the very long and powerful arm of justice grabbed Nicolás Maduro and will put him in front of an American court. Maduro was a dictator who ruled through fraud, repression, and corruption, and…
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) January 3, 2026
My statement on the Trump Administration’s actions in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/tZ6j85ICHQ
— Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) January 3, 2026
Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your Bold, Decisive Leadership. America is safer when leadership is clear, strong, and unafraid. pic.twitter.com/ydEIAUfA1K
— Sheriff Mark Lamb (@sherifflamb1) January 3, 2026
Xanthe Bullard, Chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party released a statement regarding the Venezuela strikes and Maduro's arrest.
To read the statement in full, see attached file.
