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Democrats who would react to the news of U.S. military action in Venezuela with condemnation and calls for impeachment were headed off at the pass by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who detailed why the strikes did not require congressional authorization.
In a bold move by President Donald J. Trump, military forces carried out a “large-scale strike” on Caracas early Saturday morning, capturing dictator and alleged drug cartel kingpin Nicolás Maduro, who will be put on trial for his crimes.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump announced in a post to Truth Social.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) spoke with Rubio after the strikes and said that he was assured by the nation’s top diplomat that the action to take Maduro into custody was within Trump’s constitutional authority.
Just got off the phone with @SecRubio
He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant… https://t.co/lXCxhPoKSZ
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
“Just got off the phone with @SecRubio. He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant,” he wrote in a pre-dawn post to X on Saturday.
“This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,” Lee said.
“He anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” the senator added in another post.
He anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
The Utah Republican’s chat with Rubio came after his initial reaction to the news.
“I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force,” he wrote.
I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force https://t.co/f5ackJn5Mi
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
Another GOP lawmaker, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), also said he spoke with Rubio and praised the Venezuelan operation as a monumental historic moment akin to the Berlin Wall coming down.
I have just spoken to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President Trump has changed the course of history in our hemisphere. Our country & the world are safer for it.
Today’s decisive action is this hemisphere’s equivalent to the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
It’s a big day in…
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 3, 2026
“I have just spoken to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Trump has changed the course of history in our hemisphere. Our country & the world are safer for it. Today’s decisive action is this hemisphere’s equivalent to the Fall of the Berlin Wall,” Gimenez wrote in a post to X.
“It’s a big day in Florida, where the majority of Venezuelan, Cuban, & Nicaraguan exiles reside,” the Cuban-born congressman added. “This is the community I represent & we are overwhelmed with emotion and hope. We are forever grateful to President Trump & to our brave service members for this stellar military operation. ¡Gracias!”
And right on cue, Democrats are already squawking about the “illegal” strikes.
The White House is confirming U.S. military operations in Venezuela tonight. Let us be clear: these strikes are illegal. The President does not have the authority to declare war or undertake large-scale military operations without Congress. Congress must act to rein him in.… pic.twitter.com/KsbxS6TbSp
— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) January 3, 2026
“Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government. Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country. And he is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States,” Rubio said in a July 2025 post to X, noting that Maduro has no legitimacy.
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