President Trump just dropped a bombshell by announcing a daring operation that nabbed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, right out of their own country.

On early Saturday, the Trump administration revealed that U.S. personnel executed a stunning capture of Maduro and Flores, whisked them out of Venezuela, and launched a significant military strike on the nation, all without a nod from Congress, sparking a firestorm of debate, the Hill reported. 

Democratic lawmakers are up in arms, branding the move as outright “illegal” since it sidestepped congressional approval for armed conflict.

Democrats Cry Foul on Unauthorized Strike

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., didn’t hold back, accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of pulling a fast one on Congress with earlier assurances that regime change wasn’t the goal.

“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change,” Kim stated. “I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”

With all due respect to Kim’s passion, one might wonder if he’s overlooking the multiple U.S. indictments against Maduro for narcoterrorism—hardly the resume of a choirboy deserving unwavering trust.

Conservative Defense of Maduro’s Capture

Vice President Vance stepped up to the plate, defending the operation by pointing to Maduro’s long list of legal troubles in U.S. courts, including charges of drug trafficking.

Sen. Tim Cotton, R-Ark., echoed that sentiment, applauding the troops and law enforcement for a job well done while noting Maduro’s indictment nearly six years ago for running a drug empire.

Let’s be frank—while Democrats fret over process, conservatives might argue that removing a narco-dictator isn’t just a policy win, it’s a moral one, even if the paperwork got a bit messy.

Democratic Concerns Over Global Image

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., took a swipe at the operation, calling it a shameful slide from global leader to international strong-arm in under a year, drawing parallels to his combat days in Iraq.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., questioned Trump’s fiscal priorities, noting the lapse of Affordable Care Act subsidies while funds seem endless for military ventures abroad.

While their concerns about optics and budgets aren’t baseless, one could counter that protecting American interests from narco-terrorism isn’t exactly a frivolous expense, even if it ruffles some diplomatic feathers.

Balancing Act or Power Grab?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., threw in her two cents, alleging the operation is a thinly veiled grab for oil and power, not a crusade against drugs, especially given Trump’s recent pardon of a major narco figure.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, meanwhile, laid out Maduro’s rap sheet—narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons charges—promising a swift trial on U.S. soil.

While progressive voices cry foul over ulterior motives, conservatives might see this as justice long overdue for a man accused of weaponizing drugs against American communities, regardless of the political noise surrounding the operation.