Senator Chuck Schumer criticizes the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military, calling it unlawful and raising concerns about the potential for an endless war. Schumer also questions the U.S.'s plan for managing Venezuela and the feasibility of repairing the country's oil infrastructure. The senator criticizes the actions in Venezuela, as a violation of sovereignty without proper Congressional authorization.
Sunday, January 4, 2026, Senator Chuck Schumer condemned the capture of Venezuela n President Nicolás Maduro , deeming it unlawful. Schumer, speaking to 'This Week' anchor George Stephanopoulos, stated, 'Maduro is a horrible, horrible person, but you don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness, and that's what's happened here.' He emphasized the lack of legal authority for the operation, pointing out the violation of Venezuela n sovereignty. 'There is no authority ...
they did not just do ships off the water. They went inside Venezuela, bombed civilian as well as military places, and it's a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress,' he asserted. The senator expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation, highlighting the potential consequences of the U.S.'s actions. Schumer indicated that the United States was, according to the current plan, intended to oversee Venezuela until a satisfactory transition could be established. Furthermore, Schumer raised questions about the current state of governance in Venezuela, stating that 'nobody knows' who is actually running the country. He warned of the risks associated with such interventions, saying, 'The American people this morning, George, are scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear of what the president has proposed. We have learned through the years when America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way, the American people pay the price in both blood and in dollars.' Schumer's comments reflect a cautious approach, questioning the potential long-term ramifications of the U.S. involvement and highlighting the need for careful consideration. The senator voiced doubts about the practicality of U.S. oil companies repairing Venezuela's oil infrastructure, a claim made by President Trump following the strike. He stated, 'It seems sort of a back-of-the-envelope operation, at least by what they've told people. These oil fields have been in disrepair for years. We have no idea how long it's going to take, how much it's going to cost, and whether we need military troops guarding the oil fields while we do it.' He also criticized Trump's involvement in Venezuela, recalling Trump's earlier campaign promises to avoid overseas conflicts. 'The American people are worried that this is creating an endless war. The very thing that Donald Trump campaigned against over and over and over again was no more endless wars. And right now, we're headed right into one, with no barriers, with no discussion,' he argued. This declaration follows an overnight mission led by a U.S. military extraction team, supported by more than 150 military aircraft. The team entered Caracas, Venezuela's capital, reached the compound where Maduro and his wife were staying, and then transported the pair to the USS Iwo Jima warship before bringing them to New York City, where Maduro faces charges of narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. Schumer also commented on a separate issue, pointing to the Republicans' obstruction of a bill related to a different subject. 'We passed legislation to renew them for three years, and the Republicans blocked it in every single way. They're a mess. They're a mess. John Thune has said he will not renew them. Johnson has said they will not ... so it's the Republicans have screwed this up. If they can find a way out of the mess, we want to work with anybody to lower the prices.' He added, 'No. There are two separate tracks here. Democrats want to fund the appropriations, the spending bills all the way through 2026. We want to work with a bicameral, bipartisan way to do it. And the good news is our Republican appropriators are working with us, and we're making good progress in that regard.
Venezuela Nicolás Maduro Chuck Schumer U.S. Intervention Foreign Policy
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