BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The announcement of a military operation in Venezuela on Saturday morning has prompted reactions from leaders across our region.
Channel 3 News reached out to the Vermont National Guard, but they could not share details of the operation nor confirm to us if the Green Mountain Boys were involved in the airstrikes. As we have previously reported, the Vermont Air National Guard deployed to the Caribbean ahead of Saturday’s strikes. They’ve been staging at an airbase in Puerto Rico.
Though Vermont National Guard could not offer details, Adjutant General Greg Knight, the commander of the Vermont Guard, confirms to Channel 3 News all of the Green Mountain Boys are safe.
Additional statements may be added from leaders as they become available, these statements and comments had been made as of 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
Vermont
Senator Bernie Sanders (I) issued this statement minutes after President Trump’s press conference announcing the Venezuelan strike concluded:
“Donald Trump has, once again, shown his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. The President of the United States does NOT have the right to unilaterally take this country to war, even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro. The United States does NOT have the right, as Trump stated this morning, to “run” Venezuela. Congress must immediately pass a War Powers resolution to end this illegal military operation and reassert its constitutional responsibilities.
“Trump’s attack on Venezuela will make the United States and the world less safe. This brazen violation of international law gives a green light to any nation on earth that may wish to attack another country to seize their resources or change their governments. This is the horrific logic of force that Putin used to justify his brutal attack on Ukraine.
“Trump and his administration have often said they want to revive the Monroe Doctrine, claiming the United States has the right to dominate the affairs of the hemisphere. They have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. This is rank imperialism. It recalls the darkest chapters of U.S. interventions in Latin America, which have left a terrible legacy. It will and should be condemned by the democratic world.
“Trump campaigned for president on an “America First” platform. He claimed to be the “peace candidate.” At a time when 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, when our healthcare system is collapsing, when people cannot afford housing and when AI threatens millions of jobs, it is time for the president to focus on the crises facing this country and end this military adventurism abroad. Trump is failing in his job to “run” the United States. He should not be trying to “run” Venezuela.”
Senator Peter Welch (D) issued this statement:
“Today, my thoughts are first and foremost on the safety and wellbeing of America’s armed forces, especially the brave Vermonters serving in the Vermont Air National Guard deployed as part of Operation Southern Spear.
“This attack on Venezuela was illegal, unconstitutional, and reckless. President Trump’s hunger for a regime change war makes it clear he doesn’t care about how this unauthorized and illegal action could cause further chaos and suffering in Venezuela. Has he learned nothing from Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya? This could lead us into another forever war, risking the lives of U.S. service members and hurting the economy. There is no question that Nicolás Maduro, whom we all despise, was a corrupt autocrat who caused immense suffering in his country and instability in the region—but today’s actions by the President were wrong and will ultimately weaken our national security.
“And then there is the Trumpian hypocrisy: President Trump claims justification to bring Maduro to federal court in New York City to face drug charges. It will be the same court where the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, was convicted last year of trafficking more than 400 tons of cocaine to the United States and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison — only to be pardoned and freed by President Trump.
“Under our Constitution it is the exclusive responsibility of the United States Congress to authorize an act of war against a foreign country. Congress must immediately return to Washington to debate and vote. It is our obligation, and one of the most solemn, serious decisions we will make as representatives of the American people.”
Representative Becca Balint (D) posted this message on social media:
“So much for no foreign wars. The President has no legal authority to attack another country or its leaders. He must be held accountable.”
New York
Senator Chuck Shumer (D) posted this statement to social media:
“Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless.
“The administration has assured me three separate times that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela. Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans.
“The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans. The American people have seen this before and paid the devastating price.
“The administration must brief Congress immediately on its objectives, and its plan to prevent a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster that plunges us into another endless war or one that trades one corrupt dictator for another.
“To distract from skyrocketing costs Americans face and the historic cover up of the Epstein files, Donald Trump is attempting to the throw Americans into more international chaos and uncertainty.”
Representative Elise Stefanik (R) made this comment on social media:
“As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, l am grateful for our brave troops, intelligence officers, and law enforcement who ensured a successful military operation in Venezuela leading to the arrest and indictment of the illegitimate narco terrorist Nicolas Maduro. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have been killed by Maduro’s terrorist cartels trafficking deadly drugs into our country. Justice must be served.”
New Hampshire
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D) released this statement as ranking memeber of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
“Nicolas Maduro is a tyrant who repressed Venezuelans and aligned with our adversaries. However, today’s drastic military operation by President Trump on Venezuelan soil is entirely inconsistent with what his cabinet repeatedly briefed to Congress and goes against the expressed wishes of the American people. These strikes draw America even deeper into open conflict at grave risk to our service members and reportedly resulted in injured American troops—which we need more information about immediately.
“Because the President and his Cabinet repeatedly denied any intention of conducting regime change in Venezuela when briefing Congress, we are left with no understanding of how the Administration is preparing to mitigate risks to the U.S. and we have no information regarding a long-term strategy following today’s extraordinary escalation. Instead, the Administration consistently misled the American people and their elected representatives by offering three differing and contradictory explanations for its actions.
“The American people and Congress deserve transparency and real, concrete answers about what is happening in our own hemisphere. We need to hear directly from the President on why his varying justifications to date warrant dragging America into an armed conflict without a clear end. We need to know how President Trump will prevent Maduro’s lieutenants and criminal gangs from filling the power vacuum that his unilateral action is likely to create. And the Administration should explain how it intends to prevent Venezuela from collapsing into further instability.
“Today’s actions risk broader insecurity in the region, including the migration of millions more refugees fleeing for the U.S. and other countries, like Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, that are already overwhelmed by the drug crisis. If the President is confident that today’s military action will not result in unintended consequences for Americans, he should be honest with our country about his reasoning and next steps.
“I urge the Trump Administration to immediately brief Congress on these actions when the Senate returns to Washington on Monday—if not, sooner.”
Senator Maggie Hassan (D) published this statement:
“The people of New Hampshire do not want to be dragged into another foreign war, especially by a President who has failed to articulate a clear strategy or purpose for attacking a sovereign nation and, in so doing, destabilizing much of the Western Hemisphere and calling into question our country’s commitment to a rules-based international order.
“Nicolas Maduro was a brutal dictator who trafficked drugs across the world and helped America’s adversaries thrive. But I have deep concerns about the President’s unilateral decision to launch a large-scale military operation on foreign soil and with no clear strategy to limit our involvement and prevent us from being dragged into another endless war.
“Our Constitution vests the power to declare war in Congress to ensure that the American people have a voice in deciding whether to put our service members and our country at risk. The President needs to provide information about how he plans to deal with the instability that this action creates and what comes next. In the meantime, I am praying for the service members who were injured in this operation and for the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces around the world.”
Representative Maggie Goodlander (D) made this comment on social media:
“Nicolás Maduro was a dictator and a thug, and the bravery and skill of America’s troops are truly extraordinary. But President Trump needs to explain how taking large-scale military strikes without congressional authorization will make the American people safer and what the plan is now.
The American people deserve answers.”
United States military action in Venezuela
In a press conference beginning Saturday morning, President Donald Trump and cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described Operation Absolute Resolve and took questions from reporters, where these facts were shared:
– Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a military operation.
– The two are being held on the USS Iwo Jima headed to New York.
– The attack occurred in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
– The operation lasted less than 30 minutes.
– Maduro and Flores were in their home inside the Ft. Tiuna military installation at the time of capture.
