Sen. Mark Warner said he does not know President Trump’s objective in Venezuela and warned against deploying U.S. ground troops. He told ABC’s Martha Raddatz he has not been briefed on administration plans and urged a congressional briefing. The Pentagon has increased forces in the Southern Command region, the White House authorized at least 22 strikes that reportedly killed dozens, and U.S. authorities seized a sanctioned tanker believed to carry over 1 million barrels. Warner cautioned these actions risk drawing the U.S. into a wider conflict.
Warner: "I Do Not Know" Trump's Endgame In Venezuela — Warns Against U.S. Ground Forces
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), a member of the Gang of Eight and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he does not know what President Trump’s objective is in Venezuela and urged caution about deploying U.S. ground forces.
Speaking to ABC News host Martha Raddatz on This Week, Warner said, "I do not know what this president’s goal vis-a-vis Venezuela is," and added that he has not been briefed on the administration’s intentions toward the South American country.
Regional Developments
The Pentagon has built up forces in the U.S. Southern Command region while the White House has authorized a series of strikes on vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. Officials say at least 22 strikes were carried out in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific; U.S. sources reported that the strikes killed as many as 87 suspected "narco-terrorists."
U.S. authorities also seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast that was reportedly en route to Cuba. The vessel, sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2022, was believed to be carrying more than 1 million barrels.
Political Fallout
Those actions have increased tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom administration officials have described as an "illegitimate leader" allegedly tied to a drug-trafficking network. Last Thursday, President Trump cited concerns including migration from Venezuela as part of the rationale for escalated measures.
Warner: "I’m not sure where [Trump is] headed here. I do fear that boots on the ground in Venezuela could be a disaster."
Warner acknowledged that the Maduro regime has been brutal to the Venezuelan people, but warned that the current course risks drawing the United States into an avoidable conflict. He urged the administration to brief Congress and clearly state whether it intends to pursue the removal of Maduro from power.
Bottom line: A top Senate Democrat says he lacks clarity on U.S. goals in Venezuela and cautions against a ground invasion, while recent U.S. military and law-enforcement actions have escalated tensions with Caracas.
