Ahead of a Senate briefing on the operation to capture Maduro, Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday questioned the Trump administration's Venezuela strategy and demanded more details, while most Republicans welcomed the operation.
Some Senate Democrats have said they plan push for a vote on war powers as early as this week to block further military action in Venezuela. They are expected to be joined by Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has long been skeptical of military intervention. The House and Senate have held similar votes in recent months, but they all failed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, was unimpressed with an earlier briefing to congressional leaders on Monday, telling reporters that administration officials “have no idea what steps 2 through 10 will be.”
Other Democrats questioned the legality of the operation and criticized Trump's focus on Venezuelan oil or his proposal to “govern” Venezuela.
“If Donald Trump wants to govern the country, he should think about governing the United States of America,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.
Republicans largely supported the president, arguing that the military operation was legal and justified. Most also expressed confidence in Trump's strategy.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told reporters he was confident there was a plan for how the U.S. would act in Venezuela, but “the next few days will be key” in assessing the “government structure” and “how willing they are to work with the U.S.”
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said: “We are responsible for Venezuela.”
“Those who say we're going to run away and occupy Venezuela, we're not,” Graham added. “We’re going to build the country—as long as we run it.”
