On January 3, 2026, President Donald J. Trump announced via Truth Social that the United States had conducted a large-scale strike on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of the country. President Trump’s post detailed the strike as a successful military effort aimed at Venezuela’s leadership. It stated: “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. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” The operation was described as being carried out in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement, with a news conference scheduled for later that day at Mar-a-Lago. Two days later, on January 5, 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders responded on X, outlining six reasons why he viewed the action as wrong.
Sanders’ Response
Senator Sanders listed six specific points criticizing the strike. The post included an image detailing these reasons, emphasizing legal, security, moral, environmental, and domestic policy concerns.
1: Legality and Constitutionality
Sanders highlighted that the action lacked congressional approval. He stated: “It is illegal and unconstitutional. Congress did not authorize or even know about this military action.”
2: Impact on Global Safety
He argued that ignoring international law could set a dangerous precedent. The point read: “It will make the world less safe. If international law is ignored, any nation or terrorist organization can justify a violent attack by pointing to Trump’s actions in Venezuela. This was Putin’s logic in Ukraine.”
3: Imperialism Concerns
Sanders described the strike as an example of imperialism focused on resources. He noted: “It is blatant imperialism. Powerful nations do not have the legal or moral right to invade smaller countries to steal their natural resources. Venezuela’s oil belongs to the people of Venezuela, not U.S. corporations.”
4: Environmental and Economic Implications
Connecting the action to fossil fuels, Sanders pointed out shifts in global energy trends. His statement: “At a time when the entire world is moving away from fossil fuels for cheaper and non-polluting sustainable energies, protecting the interests of Big Oil is bad for the climate and bad economics.”
5: Selective Criticism of Leaders
He compared Maduro to other global figures, questioning the consistency of U.S. interventions. The reason: “Maduro is corrupt and anti-democratic. So is MBS of Saudi Arabia. So are many other leaders around the world. Just because we do not like a country’s leader does not mean we have the right to overthrow their government.”
6: Contradiction to Campaign Promises
Finally, Sanders referenced Trump’s campaign rhetoric and domestic priorities. He concluded: “Trump ran for president as a ‘peace candidate’ who believed in ‘America First,’ not someone who was going to ‘run’ another country. At a time when 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, maybe he should try doing a better job running this country, not taking over Venezuela.”
