🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Raid on Venezuela as GOP Backs the President After Closed-Door Session. Senior leaders from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his home city. Details of the Raid Disclosed to Lawmakers Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, the intelligence chief, and the top military officer informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the swift strike that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a New York City jail cell. This briefing marked the initial instance the entire chamber heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. A Plan Centered on Oil Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; 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.” Partisan Split Emerges in Washington Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats 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 in power to begin with.” Operational Timeline and Court Case In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces hit several locations across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy. Opposition Doubts and Public Unease One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.” “This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources under threat of force for an undefined period as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability. This criticism 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 concern the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the partisan split 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 military presence, funding, and what guardrails are in place.” Unclear Path Ahead and International Condemnation The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an indeterminate time. “The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capability of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.” Global criticism has been swift. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers called for Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. defended the action as targeted law enforcement. 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 very keen interest 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 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 promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”