Democrats rip Trump administration for 'illegal' strikes on Venezuela [View all]

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Source: The Hill

01/03/26 7:58 AM ET


Democratic lawmakers lambasted the administration early Saturday after President Trump announced U.S. personnel captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, flew them of the South American nation and carried out a “large scale” strike in the country. The move, many argued, was “illegal” without congressional approval.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) specifically called out Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the operation — pointing to remarks the officials made during briefings late last year.

“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress,” Kim wrote on social platform X. “Trump rejected our Constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the Administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.

“This strike doesn’t represent strength. It’s not sound foreign policy,” he continued. “It puts Americans at risk in Venezuela and the region, and it sends a horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the U.S. government.” The senator added, “This will further damage our reputation – already hurt by Trump’s policies around the world — and only isolate us in a time when we need our friends and allies more than ever.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5670752-trump-venezuela-strike-democrats/

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Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.

— Senator Andy Kim (@kim.senate.gov) 2026-01-03T10:37:29.506Z

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Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress. Trump rejected our Constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict Show more
The New York Times
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Breaking News: President Trump said that the U.S. captured Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader, and that he is being flown out of the country. Follow live updates. https://nyti.ms/45AcbuS
5:33 AM · Jan 3, 2026