While many Southern California lawmakers were quick to condemn Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s tenure, they split along party lines about just how the U.S. captured the South American country’s leader early Saturday.
Democrats largely decried President Donald Trump‘s military action without congressional approval.
“Nicolás Maduro is a brutal, corrupt, violent dictator. His illegitimate rule has terrorized the people of Venezuela and made the region and the world less safe. Venezuelans deserve peace, freedom, stability and legitimate democracy,” said Rep. Derek Tran, a Democrat who represents communities in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
But Tran continued: “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, President Trump’s unilateral military action is deeply troubling to me. These actions, taken with no approval or input from Congress, is simply put, illegal. It will further destabilize the region, risk alienating our allies and limit our ability to counter terrorism and drug trafficking. President Trump’s decision to involve America in a forever war is reckless and inconsistent with the priorities of the American people.”
Republicans, meanwhile, celebrated the removal of Maduro from office.
“Maduro was a brutal dictator and an indicted narco-terrorist responsible for flooding our country with deadly drugs and contributing to countless American deaths,” Rep. Young Kim, who represents communities in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, said in a post on social media.
“The Venezuelan people have suffered under his illegitimate rule for long enough,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “I’m glad he will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and look forward to hearing more from the administration in the coming days and hours.”
Find more early reactions from lawmakers below.
Sen. Adam Schiff, Democrat: “Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country. But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further erodes America’s standing on the world stage and risks our adversaries mirroring this brazen illegal escalation.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles: “While Maduro is an illegitimate leader, his government posed no imminent military threat to the United States. This action risks destabilizing Venezuela, plunging the country into chaos, and dragging the US into yet another endless war or open-ended nation-building effort.
For months, President Trump, who promised to be the most transparent president in U.S. history and to end foreign wars, misled the American people about his intentions. Congress and the American people deserve the truth, not another forever war launched in the dark.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall: “Let’s unite to support President Trump’s strong foreign policy and America’s regional and national interests.”
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D- Los Angeles: “The new year starts with an incompetent engaging the United States in yet another illegal conflict … all for oil. The military knows better. Trump is dangerous.”
Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Indio: “Trump’s war against Venezuela is illegal, and puts American service members in harm’s way. The Constitution requires congressional approval for war, and Trump did not seek it and does not have it. Trump and Republicans have stripped healthcare and food away from millions, raised costs through the Trump tariff tax and the Big Ugly Law in order to give billions of dollars in tax cuts to billionaires, and now they illegally start a war. Not good, not good at all!”
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside: “President Trump is once again acting like a king. He just overthrew the Venezuelan government, dragging us into yet another foreign intervention without Congress’s approval. Republicans need to grow a spine and join us in demanding oversight and checking this imperial president.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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