Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized President Donald Trump’s recent military operation in Venezuela, calling it an “illegal military adventurism abroad” and urging the U.S. to focus on domestic crises. Sanders’ comments were made in a video posted on X, where he detailed his concerns about Trump’s approach to Venezuela and his domestic priorities.
Why It Matters
Sanders framed the U.S. operation against Nicolás Maduro as a violation of international law and the Constitution. He argued that unilateral military actions by the president undermine Congress’ war powers and risk giving a precedent for other nations to justify aggressive interventions for resources or political control.
What to Know
In the video, Sanders said, “Donald Trump has, once again, shown his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. Let’s be clear. The President of the United States does not have the right to unilaterally take this country into war, even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro. Congress must immediately pass a war powers resolution to end this illegal military operation and reassert its constitutional responsibilities.”
He added that the U.S. attack will not make Americans or the world safer and compared Trump’s rationale to Putin’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Sanders accused the administration of attempting to revive the Monroe Doctrine, claiming the U.S. has the right to dominate hemispheric affairs, and criticized its interest in controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves.
What People Are Saying
Sanders emphasized that domestic challenges—including widespread economic insecurity, a collapsing healthcare system, housing unaffordability, and threats from artificial intelligence to jobs—should take priority over military interventions abroad. “Trump campaigned for president on an America first platform. He claimed to be the peace candidate. Well, at a time when 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck… it is time for the president to focus on the crises facing this country and end the military adventurism abroad,” he said.
Sanders concluded: “Trump is failing in his job to run the United States of America. He should not be trying to run Venezuela.”
What Happens Next
The senator called on Congress to act immediately to reassert its constitutional authority over military operations. The comments are likely to fuel debates in Washington over the legality and strategic wisdom of the Trump administration’s intervention in Venezuela, as well as the broader role of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.
