🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Raid on Venezuela as Republicans Defend Trump Following Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest armed interventions in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital. Details of the Raid Disclosed to Senators Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a New York City jail cell. This session marked the initial instance the full Senate heard details of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops swooping into Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. A Plan Centered on Oil Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, creating opportunities for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “a transitional period.” “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 rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent for executive power. “What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.” Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across the country's north, apprehended 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 entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy. Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.” “This is an insane plan,” 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 detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability. This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express concern the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the political division on Capitol Hill. “Across America, people are just saying what is happening?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, financial cost, and what limits are in place.” Uncertain Future and International Condemnation The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an unspecified period. “The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still in place,” 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 demanded Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action. Broader Strategic Focus Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing national security concerns. “China and Russia are operating off the coast 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 took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no plans to reduce its stance. “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.”