On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the controversial U.S. military strike on Venezuela, condemning the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as unlawful. Speaking to This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos, Schumer emphasized, "Maduro is a horrible, horrible person, but you don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness." He expressed deep concern over the legality of the U.S. actions, stating, "There is no authority ... they did not just do ships off the water. They went inside Venezuela, bombed civilian as well as military places, and it's a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress."
Despite President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. would "run Venezuela until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Schumer pointed out the uncertainty regarding who is actually in control of Venezuela. He remarked, "The American people this morning, George, are scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear of what the president has proposed." Schumer further warned that the history of U.S.-led regime change and nation-building efforts has often resulted in significant costs, both in human lives and financial resources.
Schumer expressed skepticism about Trump's claim that U.S. oil companies could restore Venezuela's oil infrastructure following the military strike. He described the administration's approach as "sort of a back-of-the-envelope operation," highlighting that the oil fields have been in disrepair for years. "We have no idea how long it's going to take, how much it's going to cost, and whether we need military troops guarding the oil fields while we do it," he added, raising important questions about the feasibility of such plans.
Schumer also criticized Trump's military involvement in Venezuela, particularly given his campaign promises to avoid overseas conflicts. "The American people are worried that this is creating an endless war," Schumer stated. He noted that Trump's rhetoric during his campaign consistently opposed "endless wars," yet the current situation appears to contradict that stance, with no clear boundaries or discussions in place.
The military operation involved a U.S. extraction team, supported by over 150 military aircraft, which infiltrated Caracas, Venezuela's capital. This team successfully reached the compound where Maduro and his wife were staying, ultimately transporting them to the USS Iwo Jima warship. Following this, Maduro was brought to New York City, where he faces serious charges related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking.
In addition to discussing Venezuela, Schumer touched upon pressing domestic issues, including the expired Obamacare insurance premiums. He criticized Republican lawmakers, stating, "We passed legislation to renew them for three years, and the Republicans blocked it in every single way. They're a mess." Schumer highlighted the need for collaboration in reducing healthcare costs and sought bipartisan efforts to address these challenges.
When asked about the possibility of a government shutdown, Schumer reassured the public, saying, "There are two separate tracks here. Democrats want to fund the appropriations, the spending bills all the way through 2026." He expressed optimism about collaborative efforts with Republican appropriators, indicating that progress is being made in a bipartisan manner.