Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the Trump administration’s seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "reckless," arguing the action lacked congressional authorization and a clear post-operation plan. Schumer said officials had repeatedly assured lawmakers there would be no military action or regime change. His comments precede a privileged Senate vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution—sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine, Rand Paul and Adam Schiff—that would halt U.S. military measures in Venezuela. Schumer also accused the administration of using the operation to distract from domestic issues like rising costs and the Epstein files.
Schumer Slams Trump's Capture Of Maduro As 'Reckless,' Calls For Congressional Oversight
Schumer slams Trump’s capture of Maduro as ‘reckless’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned the Trump administration’s operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as "reckless," saying it proceeded without congressional authorization and lacked a credible plan for what comes next.
“Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator,” Schumer said in a statement. “But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless.”
Schumer was one of several lawmakers to say the administration’s actions contradicted assurances given by top officials during briefings over recent months. He said officials had told him on three separate occasions that the U.S. was not pursuing regime change or planning military action in Venezuela.
Schumer also criticized President Trump’s earlier comments that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela until a "safe" transition could take place, calling that notion alarming and a break with prior assurances to Congress.
War Powers Resolution And Senate Vote
The remarks come ahead of a privileged Senate vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution that would halt the administration’s military measures in Venezuela, including the reported overnight bombing of Caracas, the nation’s capital. The resolution is sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
Because the measure is privileged, Senate Republicans cannot keep it from a floor vote; it requires only a simple majority to pass the upper chamber. Kaine said the resolution is intended to reassert Congress’s constitutional role in decisions involving war, peace, diplomacy and trade.
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role in matters of war, peace, diplomacy and trade,” Kaine said. “My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
Political Context And Domestic Criticism
Schumer also framed the operation as a distraction from pressing domestic concerns, saying the move diverts attention from rising costs for Americans and from lingering questions over the handling of sensitive files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
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