The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in Caracas has sparked sharply divided reactions among American politicians, with Republicans celebrating the enforcement of a narco-trafficking indictment and Democrats condemning what they view as a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been indicted in New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation. Vice-President JD Vance praised the operation, stating that President Trump had made clear that drug trafficking and theft of oil would not be tolerated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Maduro is not the legitimate president but the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a narco-terror organisation. However, specialists have questioned this characterisation, noting differences between Venezuelan and Mexican cartel landscapes.
Democratic critics argue the administration overstepped its authority. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia warned that using military force for regime change sets a dangerous precedent, potentially enabling authoritarian regimes to justify similar actions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul labelled the strikes a 'flagrant abuse of power' for lacking congressional approval.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested the real motive was oil rather than drugs, pointing to President Trump's recent pardon of a major narco-trafficker. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the unilateral attack on a sovereign nation as an 'act of war' violating federal and international law.
