Republican lawmakers are praising President Donald Trump for his capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while Democrats are raising questions about the legality of the U.S. special forces operation on foreign soil.
Republicans, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), underscored the importance of the moment for the Venezuelan people, describing Maduro as “an evil, narcoterrorist dictator.”
“It is in America’s interest to bring justice to Maduro, an illegitimate narcoterrorist dictator with American blood on his hands,” Graham wrote Saturday on social media. “To President Trump and his team, you should take great pride in setting in motion the liberation of Venezuela.”
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As we celebrate this amazing achievement by our military commanded by @POTUS, we must remember the consequences of what has happened. An evil, narcoterrorist dictator has fallen, creating a path for freedom for the wonderful, highly intelligent, hard working people of Venezuela.…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2026
Graham’s message was amplified by the likes of Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who emphasized how he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reminded the public that Maduro was indicted in the U.S. almost six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
“I just spoke to @SecRubio, who confirmed that Maduro is in U.S. custody and will face justice for his crimes against our citizens,” Cotton wrote.
Nicolas Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation. That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. I just spoke to @SecRubio, who confirmed that Maduro is in U.S. custody and…
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 3, 2026
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) similarly shared his own conversation with Rubio, adding the secretary told him “the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.”
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“This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,” Lee wrote.
Just got off the phone with @SecRubio
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
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
Regardless, Democratic reaction has focused on the legality of the operation, conducted overnight in Caracas by Delta Force, the Army’s most elite unit, and confirmed by Trump on social media.
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who was also taken in the raid, were indicted in the Southern District of New York in 2020, with Maduro charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machineguns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the U.S.
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Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) reiterated that Trump had “no authority to strike Venezuela, no strategy for a democratic transition, and no credibility that he won’t just pardon the criminal Maduro like he did the Honduran president.”
“After voting No in December, Republicans in Congress must now join Democrats to grab hold the steering wheel of Venezuela policy to prevent this capture from spiraling into a blood for oil war,” Auchincloss wrote.
I commanded Marines in Latin America – they deserve a commander in chief operating lawfully and strategically. The president has no authority to strike Venezuela, no strategy for a democratic transition, and no credibility that he won’t just pardon the criminal Maduro like he did…
— Rep. Jake Auchincloss 🟧 (@RepAuchincloss) January 3, 2026
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) added that Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told senators that Trump was not pursuing regime change in Venezuela.
“I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress,” Kim wrote. “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.”
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… https://t.co/wdXm21gHnA
— Senator Andy Kim (@SenatorAndyKim) January 3, 2026
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who represents many Venezuelan ex-patriots in South Florida, conceded Maduro’s capture is “welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule.”
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But Wasserman Schultz warned that “cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows” before encouraging Venezuelans “to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo González.”
“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.”
Rep. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Florida Democrat, with an interesting statement:
“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…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2026