By Miriam Raftery

Photo Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard USS Iwo Jima after his capture, via U.S. Dept. of War

January 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Without notifying Congress and in apparent violation of international law, President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes and a ground raid on Venezuela’s capital city that resulted in capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura and his wife, Cilia Flores, overnight. Both have been transported to the U.S. to face charges of alleged drug trafficking.

Some civilians reportedly died in the bombings and some U.S. service members were injured.

Trump, in a press conference,  announced that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela and takeover the country’s oil production. Venezuela has more proven oil reserves than any other nation on earth. The president said he is not averse to "boots on the ground" but did not clarify how he intends to run Venezuela's government or oil facilities over the objections of its interim leader. 

Maduro, an authoritarian strongman and socialist whom Biden accused of stealing an election, is unpopular with U.S. elected officials on both the left and right.  But disapproving of a regime does not grant any nation the right to initiate military action against another country, let alone forcibly remove and arrest a nation’s leader. Legal scholars and members of Congress have argued that the action violated both U.S.and international law.