US Senators Receive Classified Briefing on Venezuela Operation, Sparks Intense Partisan Debate.
In a rare and highly classified briefing, top Trump administration officials laid out the details of the January 3 operation that overthrew Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led the presentation to all 100 US senators, painting the raid as a law enforcement action aimed at arresting an indicted drug trafficker.
According to Rubio, the operation was part of a three-pronged approach focused on oil stabilization, market access for US companies, and transition. The administration's goal is to extract up to 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market rates, not the discounted prices Maduro's government had been receiving.
The operation has polarized Washington, with Democrats condemning it as an "illegal act of war" that risks plunging Venezuela into chaos and setting a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action. Republicans, on the other hand, have rallied behind Trump's characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action to arrest an indicted drug trafficker.
Senator Chris Murphy was among those who expressed outrage at the operation, calling it "insane" and warning that the US is planning to take Venezuelan oil by force. Senator Markwayne Mullin defended the operation, stating that Maduro was never duly elected and therefore could not have been a legitimate leader.
The public reaction has also been sharply divided, with over six in ten Americans believing that the operation should have required congressional approval. A recent Washington Post poll found that roughly three-quarters of respondents express concern about US involvement in Venezuela, while only one-third approve of the operation.
The question on what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear, with Trump stating that the US will "run" the country for an unspecified period and allowing Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez to remain in a leadership role. Experts warn that the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact, and self-preservation is key for any regime.
International condemnation has been swift, with countries like Brazil, Chile, China, France, Iran, Mexico, Russia, and Spain denouncing the operation. Republican lawmakers have also begun to focus on Greenland as a strategic location, citing national security concerns.
The US Coast Guard has seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in separate operations, signaling that the administration remains committed to exerting pressure on Maduro's regime. Defense Secretary Hegseth warned that the military is prepared to continue this action, emphasizing that Trump's words are not just empty rhetoric but a genuine commitment to advancing American interests.
In a rare and highly classified briefing, top Trump administration officials laid out the details of the January 3 operation that overthrew Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led the presentation to all 100 US senators, painting the raid as a law enforcement action aimed at arresting an indicted drug trafficker.
According to Rubio, the operation was part of a three-pronged approach focused on oil stabilization, market access for US companies, and transition. The administration's goal is to extract up to 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market rates, not the discounted prices Maduro's government had been receiving.
The operation has polarized Washington, with Democrats condemning it as an "illegal act of war" that risks plunging Venezuela into chaos and setting a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action. Republicans, on the other hand, have rallied behind Trump's characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action to arrest an indicted drug trafficker.
Senator Chris Murphy was among those who expressed outrage at the operation, calling it "insane" and warning that the US is planning to take Venezuelan oil by force. Senator Markwayne Mullin defended the operation, stating that Maduro was never duly elected and therefore could not have been a legitimate leader.
The public reaction has also been sharply divided, with over six in ten Americans believing that the operation should have required congressional approval. A recent Washington Post poll found that roughly three-quarters of respondents express concern about US involvement in Venezuela, while only one-third approve of the operation.
The question on what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear, with Trump stating that the US will "run" the country for an unspecified period and allowing Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez to remain in a leadership role. Experts warn that the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact, and self-preservation is key for any regime.
International condemnation has been swift, with countries like Brazil, Chile, China, France, Iran, Mexico, Russia, and Spain denouncing the operation. Republican lawmakers have also begun to focus on Greenland as a strategic location, citing national security concerns.
The US Coast Guard has seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in separate operations, signaling that the administration remains committed to exerting pressure on Maduro's regime. Defense Secretary Hegseth warned that the military is prepared to continue this action, emphasizing that Trump's words are not just empty rhetoric but a genuine commitment to advancing American interests.
. They had this one character who was like totally obsessed with these ancient artifacts and they were on the verge of solving this mystery for ages, and then BAM! They just discovered something that blew everything wide open 
. It was so intense! I was on the edge of my seat, not knowing what was going to happen next 
. Reminds me a bit of what's happening in Venezuela right now, all these power struggles and whatnot 
. And have you seen those Greenland maps? Who knew there were so many islands just chillin' up there? 
. And what's up with Rubio and Hegseth leading the presentation to all 100 senators? That's some serious behind-the-scenes deal-making going on...
I'm worried about what's happening in Venezuela right now... it feels like we're playing with fire over there and I don't think anyone really knows what's going on. 
We need to consider the potential consequences, not just for Venezuela but also for the entire region. 
It's like we're setting a bad precedent and it's going to have ripple effects everywhere. 
What if this is just the start of something bigger? 
, not because they actually care about Venezuela's future.
. And now Russia and China are getting involved? That just adds to the whole mess. It's like a bad game of geopolitical chess, but instead of pieces, it's just countries trying to outmaneuver each other.
The US is trying to claim ownership of Venezuela's oil and justifying it as some sort of law enforcement action? Give me a break. It sounds like something out of a spy novel, but in real life, we're talking about millions of people's lives being affected.
It's like we're stuck in some kind of policy ping-pong match.
for me. It feels like the US is taking matters into its own hands again, which can be a recipe for disaster. I mean, if we're talking about "law enforcement action" here, then why the secrecy and lack of transparency? It's like they want to sweep this under the rug.
. On one hand, you've got Democrats condemning it as an "illegal act of war", and I'm with them on that. But then you've got Republicans defending it like it's some kind of heroics 
. Can't we just have a civilized discussion about this without all the partisanship?
, though. Venezuela is not just an American problem; it's a global concern. We should be working with countries like Brazil and Chile to find a solution that doesn't involve the US exerting its military might.
And then there's the whole thing about American interests... what does that even mean anymore? Is it just about the Benjamins or is it something deeper? 
. I mean, its not like we dont know what's going on in other countries anymore, so why do they need our help? 
and we need to calm down a bit 
i mean, on one hand u got the dems saying its an "illegal act of war" 
and the repubs saying its just law enforcement 
so who knows what's really going on? 
I'm like totally confused about this whole Venezuela thing 
. And honestly, who knows what's gonna happen next? 
and I'm worried about the oil 
because if the US is just gonna take it by force 
️ gotta respect tho that senator Chris Murphy's outrage level is on a whole nother level 
. and now they're talking about taking control of the country? that's not how democracy works, folks 
. we need transparency, not secrecy 
. and what's with this oil thing? is it really that important to extract 30-50 million barrels at market rates? seems like a lot of oil to me 
. Venezuela has its own people and government, let them handle their affairs 
. what's next, taking over Greenland? 
. It just feels like we're getting played, you know? The Republicans are so quick to defend this as some kind of law enforcement action, but what about all the international backlash and warnings from experts about how this could lead to a complete breakdown of the country? 
. Can't we all just get along? 
. Um, no thanks, buddy 
. Can't we have a conversation without it being so polarized? 
.
. Maybe this is a wake-up call for Trump's admin to reconsider its approach? Fingers crossed 
that the situation doesn't escalate further