U. S. Officials Split on Venezuela Invasion: A Closer Look

The recent U. S. military action in Venezuela has sparked a heated debate among American politicians. While some support the move, others question its legality and potential consequences. A few Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the invasion. Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky argued that the President should seek congressional approval before taking military action. He also questioned the likelihood of a positive outcome, citing past U. S. interventions in countries like Cuba, Libya, Iraq, and Syria. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia took to social media to express her concerns. She suggested that the true motive behind the invasion was not to stop drug trafficking, as claimed, but to serve other interests. She also criticized both political parties for their continuous support of military aggression. Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska, a retired Air Force Brigadier General, generally supported the military operation but warned that it could encourage aggressive actions from authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. Several Republican Senators also shared their thoughts. Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky emphasized the importance of congressional authorization for military actions, citing the intentions of the U. S. founders. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan from Alaska acknowledged the removal of Maduro but expressed concerns about the potential quagmire for U. S. troops and the lessons learned from past interventions.Most Democratic lawmakers condemned the invasion. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani personally called President Trump to express his opposition. He argued that the action violated federal and international law and was an attempt at regime change. Sen. Chuck Schumer from New York accused the Trump administration of acting in bad faith and violating the U. S. Constitution. He also claimed that the administration had previously assured him that they were not pursuing regime change or military action without congressional authorization. Sen. Adam Schiff from California described the military action and proposed U. S. occupation of Venezuela as potentially disastrous. He argued that Trump's actions risked plunging a hemisphere into chaos and breaking his promise to end wars. Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont criticized the invasion, describing it as imperialism and comparing it to Putin's attack on Ukraine. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York suggested that the military strike was an effort by Trump to distract attention from domestic issues.