Democrats Split After Trump Captures Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro

At least one House Democrat praised President Donald Trump’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following surprise U.S. military strikes in Venezuela late Saturday. “The capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who oppressed Venezuela’s people is welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., wrote on X, Fox News reported.

“However, cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows,” she added.  “Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder.

“My hope is it offers a passage to true democracy and liberation,” Wasserman Schultz noted further . “This action offers beleaguered Venezuelans a chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo González.”

Wasserman Schultz did criticize the Trump administration for allegedly failing to notify Congress before the operation.

“I’ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort,” she wrote.

“The absence of congressional involvement prior to this action risks the continuation of the illegitimate Venezuelan regime,” she added.

“Congress must be properly informed and hold hearings on this invasion,” Wasserman Schultz wrote. “As always, I will work to bring about the promise of a liberated Venezuela.”

Her reaction stood in contrast to many other Democrats, who sharply criticized Trump’s actions in Venezuela.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., accused Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution.

“Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the U.S. Constitution,” Tlaib wrote.

“These are the actions of a rogue state,” she added.

Other Democrats focused less on condemnation and more on congressional oversight.

“While I strongly oppose the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, President Trump’s military action was a serious constitutional violation,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., said in a statement.

“The Trump administration does not have sole authority to commit such acts,” he added.

“I reaffirm my position that Congress must be fully informed before the U.S. engages in hostilities towards another nation,” Espaillat said.

“I urge an immediate and full briefing for Members of Congress following ongoing developments in Venezuela and the subsequent long-term consequences in the region,” he added.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., raised multiple questions while stopping short of outright condemnation.

“Far too many questions remain unanswered, including with respect to whether further military actions are planned,” Jeffries wrote in a statement.

“First, how many American troops remain on the ground in Venezuela?” he asked.

“Second, what does America is going to run Venezuela until a judicious transition takes place mean?” Jeffries continued.

“Third, were these military strikes about seizing foreign oil to benefit friends of the Trump administration?” he added.

“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,” Jeffries wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Maduro an “illegitimate leader” but warned against deeper U.S. involvement.

“The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans,” Schumer said.

“The American people have seen this before and paid the devastating price,” he added.

“To distract from skyrocketing costs Americans face and the historic cover-up of the Epstein files, Donald Trump is attempting to throw Americans into more international chaos and uncertainty,” Schumer said.

Trump announced earlier on Truth Social that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela.”

He said Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.

Attorney General Pam Bondi later said both were indicted in the Southern District of New York.