Kamala Harris condemns Trump’s Venezuela strikes as 'unlawful and unwise'

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Venezuela, calling the action “unlawful and unwise” and questioning the administration’s justification for escalating force against Nicolas Maduro's regime.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Harris said that while Maduro remains a “brutal, illegitimate dictator,” Trump’s military operation does not make the United States “safer, stronger, or more affordable.” 

Kamala Harris says Trump is 'offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home'

Kamala Harris argued that the strikes place American troops at risk, cost billions of dollars, and further destabilise the region without clear legal authority or a defined exit strategy.

She also suggested the move was driven by political and economic motives rather than democratic or humanitarian concerns.

In her post, Harris accused Trump of launching a military action without congressional approval or a clear framework for long-term stability.  

"This isn’t about d**gs or democracy,” she wrote, adding that the operation appeared to be “about oil and Donald Trump's desire to play the regional strongman." "If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted d**g trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies," she argued.  

Harris warned that such interventions historically leave lasting consequences for both US forces and civilians in the region, writing, "The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home."

"America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first," the Democrat stressed. 

Harris' criticism comes amid growing debate in Washington over the scope of presidential war powers and whether the administration adequately consulted lawmakers before authorising strikes on Venezuelan military sites. 

Online backlash revives Kamala Harris’ earlier Venezuela stance

Soon after Harris’ post went live, social media users began circulating an older tweet from 2019 in which she described Venezuela as being in crisis and said people fleeing Maduro’s regime “deserve safety and protection.”

Critics reposted the comment under her latest criticism, accusing her of inconsistency and questioning how her previous stance aligns with her opposition to military intervention.

Several users directly challenged Harris in replies, asking why she supported action highlighting Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis in the past but now condemns the use of force.

One reminded her, "The Biden-Harris administration made available a $25,000,000 reward for information that would have lead to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. Now you're saying capturing him was unlawful? Did you just entirely forget your administration's policy?"

Others defended her position, arguing that recognising a crisis and supporting refugees is not the same as endorsing unilateral military strikes. One wrote, "Every single word of this is true. But because you're Kamala Harris and MAGA does not want to admit they got scammed, they're going to bash you. The 'No New Wars' crowd sure did go full neo-con real quick."

Trump’s military campaign in Venezuela

Harris’ remarks follow a dramatic escalation by the Trump administration, which confirmed US strikes on multiple sites inside Venezuela.

Trump has claimed responsibility for the operation and framed it as a decisive move against what he called a corrupt and hostile Maduro regime.

The strikes have triggered international concern, with several foreign leaders and lawmakers questioning their legality under international law and warning of regional fallout.

Earlier, Trump released photos of himself with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth watching an operation in Venezuela as Maduro was captured.

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