U.S. lawmakers condemn a surprise military raid capturing Venezuela's Maduro, calling it an unauthorized act of war.

Democratic lawmakers in the United States denounced the Trump administration for a surprise military raid in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. They accused officials of deceiving Congress about the purpose of the operation and neglecting to obtain authorization. Senators Andy Kim and Jeanne Shaheen, as well as House leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, stated that the operation disproved earlier assertions that regime change was not a goal and that it was an act of war requiring congressional approval. Given that the raid took place during a congressional recess, they demanded prompt briefings and denounced the lack of transparency. Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the action as a legitimate attempt to hold Maduro responsible for alleged drug offenses, but it has drawn criticism from around the world and sparked worries about future military operations without legislative oversight and unbridled executive power.