Southern California’s lawmakers weigh in on US capture of Venezuela’s president

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. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino: “President Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, full stop. But for months, the Trump administration and its senior officials, Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio, have failed to adequately put forward any clear evidence that supports regime change or military action without congressional approval. In fact, both officials denied regime change was the goal multiple times to members on both sides of the aisle.

Now, it’s critical that the Trump administration immediately brief Congress on this operation, the plan for international coordination and most importantly, its plan to prevent a long occupation and ensure stability in Venezuela and for the entire region. The American people deseve answers immediately.”

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Carson: “Maduro is a bully and has long stood against American principles. But that does not give the president of the United States the right to storm another country, without congressional approval, and risk the lives of millions of Americans for his own greed and ambition.”

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona: “Nicolás Maduro is a narco-terrorist who is responsible for the deaths of many Americans. I applaud President Trump, our national security leaders and our military personnel responsible for apprehending Maduro. He will now face justice for his deadly crimes. I spoke with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth earlier this morning and congratulated him for a successful mission. I was relieved to hear no service members were killed during the operation. Over the past year, the world has seen America will no longer tolerate anyone who harms our people, including drug trafficking. The Trump Administration is correctly making the safety of America our highest priority.

As President Trump has stated this morning, the United States will facilitate a safe, proper and judicious transition of power in Venezuela. The people of Venezuela, who were oppressed under the Maduro regime, now have an opportunity for a brighter future that they should shape in a free and democratic manner.”

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena: “President Trump just bombed Venezuela and arrested its leader without any explanation to the American people and without authorization from Congress. Americans do not want another foreign regime change war launched in secret and without accountability. And Trump is setting an example to the world that it is acceptable for countries to unilaterally overthrow sovereign leaders. Congress must rein in this administration and stop it from dragging our country into another endless, unauthorized war.”

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: “President Trump has not offered the American people any clear strategic objective for a U.S. invasion of Venezuela except to take over its oil reserves. Trump has repeatedly lied to Congress about his intentions — an evasion of accountability that has led the U.S. into prolonged military conflicts before. These military operations are a return to the same failed playbook of Cold War-era interventionism and regime change that decades later still hangs over — and will now re-poison — U.S. engagement in the region. And it emboldens autocrats around the world who can argue that invasions are an acceptable tool of foreign policy.”

Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano: “There is no question that Nicolás Maduro ruled Venezuela through repression, corruption and the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions. Millions of Venezuelans have paid the price, and their country is better off without him. But even when confronting a dictator, the United States remains bound by its own Constitution.”

Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine: “The Constitution is clear: Only Congress has the power to authorize war. Maduro is an illegitimate leader, but Donald Trump’s recklessness risks pulling the U.S. into another costly and deadly conflict. Every member of Congress must stand up to this blatant abuse of power.”

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.