Democrats Melt Down, Side with Narco Terrorist Dictator, and Against the People of Venezuela [WATCH]

Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s overnight military operation in Venezuela on Saturday, while Republicans largely praised the action that resulted in the capture and federal indictment of socialist leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The U.S. operation marked a major escalation in American involvement in Venezuela and prompted immediate reaction on Capitol Hill.

Democrats argued the President lacked legal authority to carry out the operation and claimed it ran counter to U.S. interests.

Republicans, particularly those representing South Florida’s large Venezuelan exile population, described the development as a historic moment for Venezuela and the broader region.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat who has been reported to have presidential ambitions, condemned the action in an early-morning post on X shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday.

“Second unjustified war in my life time,” Gallego wrote.

“This war is illegal, it’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year. There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.”

Second unjustified war in my life time.
This war is illegal, it’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year.
There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) January 3, 2026

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Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey accused senior members of the Trump administration of misleading Congress about the intent of the operation.

Kim specifically named Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in his criticism.

“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change,” Kim wrote on X.

Kim also claimed the military action endangered Americans in Venezuela and across the region.

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

A U.S. official told The New York Times that there were no casualties during the operation.

House Democrats echoed similar concerns, with several lawmakers comparing the strike to previous U.S. military actions in Latin America.

The operation appeared to represent the most direct American military intervention in the region since former President George H.W. Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989.

“He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans—but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??” Connecticut Rep. Jim McGovern, the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, wrote on X.

Without authorization from Congress, and with the vast majority of Americans opposed to military action, Trump just launched an unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela.

He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans—but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 3, 2026

Republicans responded forcefully in support of the President, particularly those representing Florida districts with significant Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan communities.

Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez said he spoke with Rubio following the operation and credited Trump with reshaping the region’s future.

“Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for changing the course of history in our hemisphere,” Gimenez wrote on X.

“This is a historic day in Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan exile communities in the nation.”

Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for changing the course of history in our hemisphere. May God bless our brave service members and this great nation. Our country, and the world, are safer because of President Trump’s leadership, resolve, and willingness to confront evil…

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 3, 2026

Florida Sen. Rick Scott also praised the President’s decision, describing it as a major step forward for regional security.

“A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America,” Scott wrote on X.

“The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President Trump’s leadership. God bless America and God bless the people of Venezuela!”

Thank you, @POTUS, @SecRubio, @SecWar, and the brave members of our military who led the operation that successfully CAPTURED narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro.

A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America. The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President… https://t.co/VL4bnsbGVZ

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 3, 2026

Utah Sen. Mike Lee addressed questions about the legality of the operation, stating that Trump likely had the authority to act under the Constitution.

Lee said he spoke with Rubio about the matter following the seizure of Maduro.

“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 on X.

Lee added that, based on his conversation with Rubio, U.S. military involvement in Venezuela was likely concluded following Maduro’s capture.

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

The Trump administration has repeatedly characterized Maduro as an illegitimate leader who headed a cartel designated as a terrorist organization and accused of trafficking drugs into the United States.

Federal prosecutors have alleged that Maduro oversaw a corrupt government that leveraged state power to facilitate large-scale narcotics operations.

President Trump dismissed Democratic criticism during a Saturday morning interview with Fox News, arguing that the operation served clear national security objectives.

“All they do is complain,” Trump said.

“They should say, ‘You know what. We did a great job.’ We’re stopping drugs from coming into this country and no one’s been able to do it until we came along.”

🚨 2024 flashback
Please listen, please share
President @realDonaldTrump explains in detail what he will do to cartels once he is re-elected.

It is exactly what he did today!
PROMISES MADE
PROMISES KEPT

Thank you @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ClafN6z7k6

— miguelifornia (@miguelifornia) January 4, 2026

The political fallout from the operation underscored sharp divisions in Washington over U.S. military authority, foreign intervention, and the administration’s approach to Latin America, even as celebrations erupted among Venezuelan communities following Maduro’s capture.

Every left-wing Westerner should see this video before commenting on Venezuela: pic.twitter.com/n0iuuxAjvu

— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) January 3, 2026