The White House on January 5 accused several Democratic lawmakers of reversing their past positions on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following his capture and extradition to the United States under President Donald Trump.
According to the White House, multiple Democrats who previously described Maduro as a dictator or supported efforts to remove him from power are now criticizing the operation that resulted in his arrest.
Maduro has been under U.S. indictment since 2020 on federal narcotics and narco-terrorism charges. As The Dallas Express has previously reported, senior U.S. officials and former Venezuelan military and intelligence figures have for years alleged that Maduro and members of his regime coordinated large-scale cocaine trafficking and supported transnational criminal organizations.
Statements Cited by the White House
The White House pointed to a series of past and recent remarks from Democratic leaders.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in February 2020, “The Maduro regime is more powerful today and more entrenched today than it was when the President began.”
After Maduro’s capture, Schumer said on January 4, 2026, “This is reckless. And the American people are just, this morning, in fear of what’s going to happen here.”
Sen. Dick Durbin said in June 2019, “The people of Venezuela deserve better than this.”
On January 3, 2026, Durbin said, “I disagree with President Trump’s use of U.S. military forces without Congressional approval & worry deeply about this Admin’s follow through on foreign policy interventions.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen said in August 2024 that the United States needed to “ratchet up the pressure” to force a political transition in Venezuela.
After the operation, Van Hollen said on January 3, 2026, “It is an illegal act of war to replace Maduro.”
Sen. Chris Murphy wrote in January 2019 that “getting rid of Maduro is good for the United States.”
On January 4, 2026, Murphy said, “The invasion of Venezuela has nothing to do with American security. Venezuela is not a security threat to the U.S.”
The White House also cited statements from Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Rep. Darren Soto, highlighting earlier calls to delegitimize Maduro’s government alongside more recent objections to the Trump administration’s actions.
Administration’s Legal Framing
As The Dallas Express reported following the operation, the Trump administration has described Maduro’s capture as a law-enforcement action supported by military force, tied to existing federal indictments rather than a traditional invasion or occupation.
Administration officials have said the objective was to take Maduro into U.S. custody to face criminal charges, not to pursue regime change through an open-ended military presence.
Democratic lawmakers cited by the White House have focused their objections on congressional authorization and constitutional authority, rather than disputing Maduro’s indictment or past descriptions of his regime.
Maduro remains in U.S. custody as federal proceedings continue.
