CALIFORNIA – California political leaders are reacting strongly to the United States’ surprise military operation in Venezuela, January 7, that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Responses have been largely split along party lines.
The action involved U.S. forces removing Maduro and flying him to New York to face federal charges of narco‑terrorism, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and conspiracy.
It has sparked debate over legality, congressional authority, and U.S. foreign policy.
Senator Adam Schiff criticized the move as unconstitutional and dangerous.
“Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country. But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further erodes America’s standing on the world stage and risks our adversaries mirroring this brazen illegal escalation,” Schiff said.
Sen. Alex Padilla said President Donald Trump’s military action in Venezuela is unlawful without approval from Congress.
“And while he escalates conflicts abroad, Trump is ignoring real crises at home — from rising health care costs to disaster recovery. This isn’t leadership,” Padilla posted on X.
On the other side of the political spectrum, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley praised the operation, thanking U.S. service members and saying it is also a chance at a new beginning for the people of Venezuela.
“The role of the United States in helping usher in that future must integrally involve Congress moving forward,” said Kiley said on X.
U.S. to temporarily run Venezuela
Democratic members of Congress representing districts across California called for immediate congressional briefings and legal justifications.
They also demanded clarity about long-term plans for the region, arguing that decisions of this scale require legislative oversight.
Trump said the U.S. would “run the country” of Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
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