Washington DC – United States Senator Bernie Sanders has condemned President Donald Trump’s approach to Venezuela, calling it a breach of both the U.S. Constitution and international law.
Sanders said Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally take the United States to war, even against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he described as a corrupt leader. He urged Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to halt what he described as an illegal military operation.
The senator warned that Trump’s actions could make the United States and the world less secure, giving other nations a precedent to intervene in foreign countries to seize resources or change governments. Sanders drew parallels with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s justification for the attack on Ukraine.
He also criticised Trump’s reference to reviving the Monroe Doctrine, a policy historically used to assert U.S. influence in Latin America. Sanders pointed to discussions by the Trump administration about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves as evidence of imperialist motives reminiscent of past U.S. interventions in the region.
Sanders questioned Trump’s priorities, noting that while millions of Americans struggle with healthcare, housing, and job security, the president appears focused on foreign conflicts. He said the U.S. leader should concentrate on domestic crises rather than attempting to “run” Venezuela.
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