Chuck Schumer condemns Trump's Venezuela operation, calls Maduro's capture 'reckless'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York condemned the recent US military strike against Venezuela on Saturday, January 3, in an X post. Schumer, who is a vocal critic of Donald Trump, criticized the administration for proceeding without congressional authorization.

He also commented on Trump stating that the US would “run” Venezuela post the attack, noting that the president was trying to throw America into international chaos. 

Chuck Schumer accuses Trump of misleading Americans

In his X post, Chuck Schumer clarified that he believed Nicolas Maduro to be an “illegitimate dictator” of Venezuela, before he stated his grievances with the way the Trump administration initiated the attacks.

Schumer wrote that it was “reckless” of the Trump administration to launch military action without congressional authorization and accused the officials of not having a proper plan in place for what would happen next.

He further claimed that the administration had assured Schumer on three separate occasions that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela.

“Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans,” Schumer accused the Trump administration. 

Schumer commented on Trump’s statement about America running Venezuela after the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

He said that the plan should fill American hearts with fear, noting that history would repeat itself and that Americans would be the ones to pay the “devastating price.”

Chuck Schumer calls for an immediate briefing with Congress

Later in the X post, Chuck Schumer stated that the Trump administration should immediately brief Congress about its objective and plan.

He said that he wanted to prevent a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster that would plunge the US into an endless war.

“Or one that trades one corrupt dictator for another,” Schumer wrote. 

He also accused the Trump administration of trying to distract the American public from important internal issues, such as the affordability issues and the “historic cover-up of the Epstein files.”

“Donald Trump is attempting to throw Americans into more international chaos and uncertainty,” he stated.

Schumer was not the only major leader who condemned the Venezuelan strike. Thomas Massie questioned whether the decision of a military strike was “constitutionally sound.” Tim Saine also questioned the attack’s legality, calling for a full Senate vote.