US lawmakers criticize Trump for attacking Venezuela without congressional approval
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): Indian American lawmakers have criticized US President Donald Trump for his decision to use the military in Venezuela and his statement that he can "run Venezuela." Six Indian American lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party warned that Congress was bypassed before taking this step, which undermines constitutional limits on presidential power.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Maduro's record does not justify unilateral military action. "Nicolas Maduro is a dictator who has inflicted immense suffering on the Venezuelan people, but that fact does not give any president a free pass to use military force without Congress," he said.
Krishnamoorthi said that by acting without congressional authorization and publicly demonstrating US control over another sovereign country, Trump is abusing presidential power and undermining the Constitution's separation of powers. He said, "The administration must account for the safety of the American people. Congress must be fully informed of any casualties. Trump's statement that the US will govern Venezuela commits the country to an 'open-ended responsibility' without authorization."
They warned that the move would erode the rule of law, embolden Moscow and Beijing to expand their borders elsewhere, undermine trust in the United States, and ultimately make Americans less safe. Suhas Subramaniam, ranking member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, said the operation contradicts Trump's opposition to new wars. "President Trump said he would be a peace-minded president and would not start any new wars, yet he is illegally invading other countries and kidnapping their presidents," Subramaniam said.
Subramaniam said that Maduro is a violent ruler who suppressed democracy in his country, but the manner in which he was captured will not achieve US objectives. His capture will not stop the flow of drugs nor will it do anything other than further destabilize Venezuela. Perhaps another forever war has been started under false pretenses. Developing lawmakers also saw the operation as a warning to global norms.
Ro Khanna said, "Trump has betrayed his MAGA base today by launching a war of his choice to change the government in Venezuela." American intervention has repeatedly failed. Arguing, Khanna asked, "What will we say now if Xi Jinping tries to capture Lai in Taiwan or Putin tries to capture Zelensky in Ukraine?" Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal accused Trump of breaking a key promise.
"Trump promised to get America out of wars, but he lied. This action was all about oil, greed, and power. Washington is dictating the Venezuelan leadership, not the Venezuelan people," he said. Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian American congressman, said Maduro was illegitimate, but warned that the decision to attack without congressional input was deeply concerning and illegal.