Johnson: 'We Are Not At War' In Venezuela After White House Briefing

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday insisted the United States is "not at war" in Venezuela after a briefing with senior administration officials following a weekend raid ordered by President Donald Trump to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The president's aides subsequently declared that the U.S. would take an active role in managing Venezuela's affairs.

Raid, Arrest and Allegations

The surprise incursion capped months of heightened U.S. pressure on Venezuela, including a partial blockade of oil shipments and airstrikes on vessels off its coast. Reports say those strikes have been linked to at least 110 deaths. Maduro was arrested alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, and federal prosecutors in New York have indicted him on four counts related to firearms, drug trafficking and so-called "narco-terrorism." He pleaded not guilty at an initial court appearance in New York City on Monday.

Administration's Position

After the briefing — attended by senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi — Johnson told reporters the administration is not seeking a military occupation of Venezuela. "We are not at war. We do not have U.S. armed forces in Venezuela, and we are not occupying that country," he said, rejecting Democratic criticisms that the president violated the law by not notifying Congress before the operation.

Johnson described the U.S. action as pressure designed to change the Maduro government's behavior rather than a traditional regime-change campaign. He said a newly sworn-in interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, is expected to cooperate with U.S. demands — including efforts to place American oil companies in control of Venezuela's crude reserves — and that Washington hopes economic and diplomatic measures will prompt new elections.

Johnson: "This is not a regime change. This is a demand for change of behavior by a regime. The interim government is stood up now, and we are hopeful that they will be able to correct their action."

Claims and Concerns

The White House has labeled Maduro's government a "narco-terrorist" regime, alleging it trafficked drugs — including fentanyl — into the United States and provided space for foreign rivals and armed groups. Some experts dispute parts of that characterization. Administration officials argue that choking Venezuela's oil exports will force political change; Johnson predicted the pressure would bring about a transition to new governance without U.S. troops on the ground.

Political Reactions

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the briefing "posed far more questions than it ever answered" and warned the U.S. risked being drawn into a new conflict. "Their plan for the U.S. running Venezuela is vague, based on wishful thinking and unsatisfying," Schumer said, adding he received no firm assurances the administration would not pursue similar actions elsewhere.

Top members of Congress were briefed in a session limited to party leaders and the bipartisan chairs and ranking members of committees that oversee intelligence, foreign policy and the armed forces. Johnson said senior administration officials will return to the Capitol on Wednesday to brief all members of Congress on the strategy.

Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee — Chair Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin — issued a rare joint protest after being excluded from the briefing, saying there was "no legitimate basis" for the omission and demanding the information the committee needs regarding Maduro's arrest.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast defended the decision not to seek prior congressional authorization for the operation, calling it "not an operation that requires authorization" and likening it to prior targeted U.S. strikes that the administration says achieved objectives without a long-term troop presence.

International Response

At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, dozens of countries condemned the U.S. incursion as a "crime of aggression." Meanwhile, Democratic senators plan to force a vote on a War Powers resolution that would require congressional authorization for further U.S. military actions in Venezuela; it is unclear whether such a measure could pass the Republican-controlled House.