American military forces launched a surprise attack on Caracas, Venezuela's capital city, ultimately capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday morning. As of now, Maduro is aboard the USS Iwo Jima, heading to New York to face drug and weapons charges in federal court.
The military operation, which Trump explained was secretly planned since December, resulted in injuries to some American service members when a helicopter was struck during the raid. Additionally, elite US forces pulled Maduro and his wife from their bedroom during the nighttime operation.
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) immediately took to social media to criticize the military action.
"I lived through the consequences of an illegal war sold to the American people with lies," Gallego wrote on X. "We swore we would never repeat those mistakes. Yet here we are again."
Gallego argued that this military engagement lacks proper authorization. "The American people did not ask for this, Congress did not authorize this, and our service members should not be sent into harm's way for another unnecessary conflict," he warned. "There is no justification for the United States to be at war with Venezuela."
'War on Drugs'
President Trump and his supporters have framed the Venezuela strikes as part of a broader "War on Drugs" aimed at stopping the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States.
In a White House press conference on December 3, 2025, Trump hinted at expanding operations, saying strikes would "start very soon on land" after discussing attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
Arizona Republican and Senior Advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Kari Lake, supported the action on social media, claiming "The Venezuelan regime is responsible for 100's of thousands (perhaps millions) of drug deaths in America as well as election interference and election fraud."
What is clear is that the opioid and drug crisis has claimed countless American lives, with families across the country affected by addiction and overdoses.
According to reports, vessels targeted in recent US strikes were carrying large quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, which has become one of the deadliest substances in the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Venezuela Escalating Military
Before his capture, President Maduro had declared a national emergency after US strikes hit the Venezuelan states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, mobilizing the country's defense forces.
Interestingly, just days before the raid, Maduro publicly stated that his government was "ready" to discuss all relevant issues with the United States.
Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that US forces had already "knocked out" a dock facility connected to Venezuela as part of the escalating military pressure campaign.
The situation has created a clear split in Congress. While some lawmakers support Trump's aggressive approach to combating drug cartels responsible for killing tens of thousands of Americans, many, such as Senator Gallego, question whether military intervention without congressional approval is legal or appropriate.
As of now, other Arizona GOP representatives have not publicly commented on the operation.
Trump has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago to provide additional details about the capture and what comes next for Maduro, who will face prosecution in Manhattan federal court.
Cactus Politics will present at the conference.
The story is developing.
