Washington, D.C. — The capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to the United States under orders from President Donald J. Trump has triggered sharp political backlash from Democratic lawmakers, many of whom had previously called for Maduro’s removal from power.
The Trump administration announced that Maduro — who has been indicted in the U.S. on narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges — was taken into custody in a joint operation and transported to the United States to face prosecution. The White House described the action as a major foreign policy success and a decisive step against organized crime and authoritarianism in the Western Hemisphere.
Maduro has long been accused by U.S. officials of overseeing widespread corruption, election manipulation, and drug trafficking while Venezuela suffered economic collapse and mass emigration. Successive Democratic and Republican administrations imposed sanctions and backed international efforts to pressure his government.
However, following the announcement of Maduro’s capture, several Democratic leaders criticized President Trump’s actions, arguing that the operation raised constitutional, legal, and international law concerns, particularly regarding the use of military force without congressional authorization.
The reaction has drawn attention because many of the same lawmakers had previously described Maduro as a dictator and supported efforts to remove him from power.
Statements Then and Now
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer previously criticized earlier Venezuela policy efforts, stating in 2020 that Maduro’s regime had grown “more entrenched.” After Maduro’s capture, Schumer warned the operation was “reckless” and said Americans were fearful about its consequences.
Sen. Dick Durbin, who in 2019 said the Venezuelan people “deserve better” and pledged continued U.S. engagement, said this week that he opposed the use of military force without congressional approval and questioned the administration’s long-term strategy.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who previously advocated increasing international pressure to force a democratic transition in Venezuela, called the operation “an illegal act of war.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, who in 2019 argued that removing Maduro could benefit U.S. interests, said the recent action was unrelated to American security and claimed Venezuela posed no direct threat to the United States.
Sen. Tim Kaine described the arrest as an “unauthorized military attack,” warning it reflected a return to U.S. interventionism in Latin America.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who once supported delegitimizing Maduro’s government, said she opposed placing U.S. forces in harm’s way without congressional approval and cautioned against wars aimed at regime change.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren reiterated her long-standing criticism of Maduro but expressed concern that the United States could become entangled in governing Venezuela, warning against what she described as “dangerous military adventurism.”
In the House, Rep. Jamie Raskin, who previously condemned Maduro’s actions against democratic institutions, accused the Trump administration of violating the U.S. Constitution and undermining the international order.
Rep. Darren Soto, who in 2024 publicly supported increasing the reward for Maduro’s capture, criticized the administration’s broader Venezuela policy, questioning whether the operation would help Venezuelan families in the U.S., particularly those affected by the rollback of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Administration Response
The White House dismissed Democratic criticism as politically motivated, arguing that the operation delivered accountability for crimes that Democrats themselves had condemned for years. Administration officials said Maduro’s capture removed a major source of regional instability and drug trafficking and sent a message to authoritarian leaders worldwide.
Legal experts note that the case is likely to spark prolonged debate over executive war powers, international jurisdiction, and the limits of U.S. intervention abroad.
As Maduro awaits trial in the United States, the episode has deepened partisan divisions over foreign policy, even as it revives longstanding questions about America’s role in confronting authoritarian regimes.
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