Democrats demand justification after Trump's Venezuela operation bypasses congress

Top Democrats in the United States have launched a forceful condemnation of the Trump administration's decision to conduct a major military operation in Venezuela without consulting or seeking authorization from Congress. The criticism centers on constitutional concerns, a lack of legal justification, and fears that the move could lead to an open-ended American military commitment.

A Constitutional Showdown Over War Powers

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led the charge, asserting that the administration has "failed to properly notify Congress in advance" and presented no evidence of an "imminent threat" to American security to justify the unilateral action. He explicitly rejected the White House's framing of the mission as a simple law enforcement or counternarcotics raid. "This was not simply a counternarcotics operation. It was an act of war," Jeffries stated on NBC's "Meet the Press," citing the involvement of elite Delta Force units, over 150 military aircraft, and thousands of troops. He and other Democrats insist that the Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war, a principle they argue has been violated.

Democrats Remain in the Dark, Administration Cites Secrecy

A key point of contention is the administration's failure to brief key lawmakers, even after the operation was completed. Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate classified briefings but reported receiving no information from the White House. Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee and a member of the "Gang of Eight" typically briefed on major intelligence matters, confirmed he had not been contacted. The administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defended the secrecy, arguing that notifying Congress in advance would have endangered the mission. "Congress has a tendency to leak," President Trump said on Saturday.

Internal Democratic Debate and Unanswered Strategic Questions

While Democratic leadership has unified around the constitutional argument, reporting suggests some internal disagreement. Several centrist and swing-district House Democrats expressed frustration anonymously, arguing the party should more clearly acknowledge the removal of an authoritarian leader like Maduro while still critiquing the process. Despite this, public Democratic questioning has focused on the strategic vacuum left by the operation. Leaders have pressed the administration for answers on critical next steps: how many troops will remain in Venezuela, the ultimate cost, the duration of the mission, and what plan exists to prevent a humanitarian crisis or a protracted conflict.