🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Raid on Venezuela as GOP Backs the President Following Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest armed interventions in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital. Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the swift strike that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a New York City jail cell. This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard details of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Strategy Focused on Petroleum Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “one of transition.” “We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” one official stated. “We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.” Political Divide Emerges in Washington Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. Republicans have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action. “What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.” Sequence of Events and Court Case In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy. Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.” “This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources at gunpoint for an unspecified time as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability. This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion mirrors the political division on Capitol Hill. “Across America, people are just saying what the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on military presence, financial cost, and what guardrails are in place.” Uncertain Future and International Condemnation The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time. “The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capability of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.” International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers called for Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. justified the move as targeted law enforcement. Broader Strategic Focus Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention toward Greenland, citing national security concerns. “China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.” The administration has maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no intention to ease pressure. “Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of action to advance our interests, and that is on full display.”