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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration conducted a large-scale strike on Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. At a subsequent press conference at his Mar-A-Lago estate, President Trump said of Venezuela: “We are going to run the country.”

“The U.S. attack on Venezuela is illegal. Congress never authorized this use of military force. I will vote to stop it. 

“This is insane. Heath care costs and food prices are surging. Trump’s response is we’re going to run another country. Batshit crazy.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WORCESTER—Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released this statement following Donald Trump’s illegal and unjustified attack against Venezuela:

“Nicolás Maduro is a brutal dictator with a horrific human rights record who used force to cling to power after losing an election. It is entirely possible to hate Maduro and also to strongly condemn the decision to remove him by force. President Trump did not seek congressional authorization for this use of force, and Congress did not grant it. Under our Constitution and the law, that makes this action illegal.

“Our policy towards Venezuela must be centered on the human rights, democratic freedoms and well-being of the people of Venezuela – all the people, not just any favored faction. They have suffered tremendously under decades of repression by their own government, and deprivations made worse by broad-based U.S. economic sanctions. Genuinely including the Venezuelan people, across all ethnic and socio-economic categories, in what comes next is essential.

“U.S. military-induced regime change creates severe unintended consequences, as evidenced in Iraq. There is always more violence and civilian harm than leaders promise. Now Trump says the U.S. will “run the country.” He has not consulted Congress on this plan. He has not been honest with the American public about the costs, either financial or boots on the ground. And Trump is insulting the Venezuelan people by thinking he knows better than them about how to chart their own future.

“Like Bush and Cheney a quarter century ago, President Trump has based this action on oil. He has spoken of Venezuela’s oil reserves as “our oil” which is the opposite of putting the Venezuelan people first.

“If Maduro is to stand trial, it would be best done by an international tribunal. The International Criminal Court has an ongoing investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the Venezuelan government under Nicolás Maduro, which is supported by many other governments in the Western Hemisphere. Holding Maduro accountable under an international justice mechanism would add legitimacy in the eyes of the global community in a way that a trial in a U.S. court may not. Trying Maduro solely on narcotics charges would risk denying the Venezuelan people the accountability-based justice they seek for massive human rights violations against them.

“President Trump has set a precedent of using superior military force to remove the leader of a country he doesn’t like for a reason of his choosing. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping must be thinking how they can achieve their own ambitions by copying Donald Trump.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Statement on U.S. Operation in Venezuela

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement regarding the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of the indicted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse.

“I support President Trump’s decisive action to return democracy to Venezuela and end the illegitimate narco-state. The extraction of drug kingpin Nicolás Maduro and his wife will save American lives and end repression of the Venezuelan people. The Venezuelan indicted and illegitimate leader and strongman, Nicolás Maduro, and his spouse will stand trial in the United States for their crimes so justice can be served.

“For two decades, the Chávez-Maduro authoritarian governments have terrorized and impoverished the Venezuelan people and exported drugs and criminals throughout the Western Hemisphere, including to the United States. They have disrupted global energy markets and offered the Russians, Iranians, and Chinese a strategic base of operations in America’s backyard, a clear violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

“Like President Bush’s 1989 intervention in Panama to remove Manuel Noriega, Maduro was indicted by the United States in 2020 for drug trafficking and its related threats to regional security.

“In 2024, the Venezuelan people rejected Maduro at the ballot box in an overwhelming vote. International election observers’ tally sheets noted that Edmundo González Urrutia won by a large margin, well over two-thirds of the vote. Neighboring nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), along with the U.S. and our allies, have condemned Maduro’s election theft and declared that he was not a legitimate leader of Venezuela.

“After decades of ambivalence, President Trump is reasserting American leadership in the Western Hemisphere and our long-standing principal foreign policy tenet of the Monroe Doctrine. He is also protecting global energy markets and drawing a line to defend the United States from an avalanche of human trafficking and mass murder driven by illegal drug trafficking.

“I commend the professionalism and courage of the brave men and women of our military who successfully carried out this mission to bring an indicted narco-leader to justice.

“As chair of the House Financial Services Committee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I look forward to briefings next week from the administration on how they will work with the Venezuelans to ensure a timely, appropriate transition to a democratically elected and stable government.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

Case Statement On U.S. Actions In Venezuela

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding United States military operations in Venezuela:

“I strongly condemn President Trump’s unlawful military action in Venezuela. Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, but the President cannot send U.S. forces into another country and seize its leader without Congressional authorization. The Trump Administration has not shown that there was an immediate threat that required acting without Congress, and it has not explained how it will keep Venezuela from sliding into chaos, violence, or a dangerous power vacuum. Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio recently told Congress this was not about forcing political change, but the Administration’s actions prove that they lied.

“This is not a careful national security decision. It is a major escalation that puts Americans in Venezuela and across the region at risk and could drag the United States into another conflict without a plan or public support. It also sets an alarming international precedent by normalizing the use of U.S. force to remove foreign leaders. The Administration must brief Congress immediately on the legal basis for this action, what intelligence they relied on, how they plan to prevent further violence and protect civilians, and what they will do to avoid wider instability in the region.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
January 3, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT STATEMENT ON U.S. MILITARY ACTION IN VENEZUELA AND FAA AIRSPACE CLOSURE

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-USVI) released the following statement today regarding military action in Venezuela and the closure of airspace covering Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

“I was informed that the FAA issued a security order closing airspace at all altitudes in the flight region of military action in Venezuela. I urge all Virgin Islanders and travelers to contact their airlines directly for updates on flight schedules and travel arrangements.

“The safety and security of Virgin Islanders and all Americans remains my top priority.  Given the U.S. Virgin Islands’ proximity to Venezuela and our position in the Caribbean, I will make sure to keep Virgin Islanders informed.  As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I will await any briefing to Committee members from the administration and share what information I am able to give to the public.   

“Additionally, my office has spoken with a regional representative from the U.S. Postal Service who has informed us that all Priority and Priority Express packages inbound and outbound will not arrive or be delivered today due to the airspace restriction.  The U.S. Postal service assured my office that they will work diligently to rectify the interruption once the airspace reopens.

“My office will continue to monitor this developing situation closely and provide updates to constituents as more information becomes available.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Issues Statement on Venezuela Strikes and Capture of Nicolás Maduro

Omaha, Neb. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement regarding the recent strikes in Venezuela and capture of Nicolás Maduro:

“Maduro and his predecessor took Venezuela from the richest to the poorest country in South America, and destroyed its democracy. The operations last night are great for the future of Venezuelans and the region. My main concern now is that Russia will use this to justify their illegal and barbaric military actions against Ukraine, or China to justify an invasion of Taiwan. Freedom and rule of law were defended last night, but dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement:

Nicolas Maduro is a criminal and authoritarian dictator who has oppressed the people of Venezuela for years. He is not the legitimate head of government. Undoubtedly, the rule of law and democracy have broken down in Venezuela and the people of that country deserve better. 

Donald Trump has the constitutional responsibility to follow the law and protect democratic norms in the United States. That is what putting America First requires. 

The Trump administration has not sought congressional authorization for the use of military force and has failed to properly notify Congress in advance of the operation in Venezuela. The promotion of security and stability in a region requires more than just military force as we painfully discovered in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Far too many questions remain unanswered, including with respect to whether further military actions are planned. First, how many American troops remain on the ground in Venezuela? Second, what does America is going to run Venezuela until a judicious transition takes place mean? Third, were these military strikes about seizing foreign oil to benefit friends of the Trump administration? Fourth, why did Donald Trump pardon the former Honduran President, a narco trafficker convicted in an American court of law, but is willing to take us to war in Venezuela in connection with similar allegations?

Pursuant to the Constitution, the framers gave Congress the sole power to declare war as the branch of government closest to the American people. The House and Senate must be briefed immediately and compelling evidence to explain and justify this unauthorized use of military force should be presented forthwith.

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