Bernie Sanders blasts Trump's Venezuela strike, calls it unconstitutional and illegal

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bernie Sanders on Saturday, January 3, sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a large-scale US military operation in Venezuela, calling the action illegal, unconstitutional and dangerous.

The Vermont independent accused the president of bypassing Congress and violating international law following the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Sanders urged lawmakers to immediately pass a War Powers resolution to halt the operation. The White House has defended the strikes, which Trump described as a “brilliant operation.”

Bernie Sanders calls Venezuela operation unconstitutional

Sanders said Trump’s decision to carry out military action without congressional authorization violated the Constitution and undermined the separation of powers.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sanders said that the president lacked the authority to unilaterally take the country to war, even against what he described as a “corrupt and brutal dictator.”

“Donald Trump has, once again, shown his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law,” Sanders said.

“The president of the United States does NOT have the right to unilaterally take this country to war, even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro,” he added.

Sanders also rejected Trump’s assertion that the United States would take control of Venezuela following Maduro’s capture.

“The United States does NOT have the right, as Trump stated this morning, to ‘run’ Venezuela,” Sanders said, calling on Congress to “immediately pass a War Powers resolution to end this illegal military operation and reassert its constitutional responsibilities.”

He warned that the military action could have broader global consequences, arguing it weakened international norms and encouraged aggression by other nations.

“Trump’s attack on Venezuela will make the United States and the world less safe,” Sanders said. “This brazen violation of international law gives a green light to any nation on earth that may wish to attack another country to seize their resources or change their governments.”

Sanders compared the justification for the operation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying, “This is the horrific logic of force that Putin used to justify his brutal attack on Ukraine.”

The senator also accused the Trump administration of pursuing imperial ambitions in the region, citing comments about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves.

“They have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. This is rank imperialism,” Sanders said, adding that it recalled “the darkest chapters of US interventions in Latin America.”

Trump confirms Maduro and wife flown out after strike

Trump announced that US forces carried out a large-scale overnight military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife.

He said the pair were taken into custody and flown out of the country following coordinated strikes involving US military and law enforcement agencies.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.”

He added, “This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement. Details to follow."

According to US officials, the operation followed a series of strikes targeting suspected d**g-s******ng operations tied to the Venezuelan regime.