In an article for Responsible Statecraft, Jake Hunter posits that a bipartisan coalition in Congress is pushing back against what many view as the Trump administration's march toward military conflict with Venezuela. Despite US President Donald Trump's inaugural promise to avoid unnecessary wars, his actions regarding Venezuela suggest a different trajectory.

Recent developments paint a troubling picture. The New York Times reported that President Trump has authorized CIA covert operations inside Venezuela.

This comes alongside continued US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels and the designation of Venezuela's "Cartel de los Soles" as a foreign terrorist organization, with President Nicolas Maduro labeled as its leader and therefore a terrorist threat.

The Pentagon is also reviving old military bases in Panama and Puerto Rico, moves that signal potential escalation in the region.

Progressive Democrats sound the alarm

Progressive Congressman Ro Khanna challenged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance directly, reminding both Iraq War veterans that they "were sent to fight a war that was based on a lie," questioning why Americans should now trust intelligence justifying military action in Venezuela.

Senator Tim Kaine, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, emphasized that Congress deserves "substantive and complete answers" after months of questions from both parties. Kaine stated that "the American people have no interest in stumbling into an illegal new war."

A group of mostly Democratic senators is pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Hegseth to declassify the legal justification for Caribbean and Pacific airstrikes.

Republican skeptics break ranks

Opposition isn't limited to Democrats. Senator Rand Paul appeared on CBS's Face the Nation, criticizing the administration for "pretending we're 'at war' with Venezuela to justify blowing up boats all without a vote, without transparency, and without answering to Congress."

Paul warned Trump that invading Venezuela could fracture his MAGA coalition, telling Reason magazine: "If he invades Venezuela or gives more money to Ukraine, his movement will dissolve."

Even Marjorie Taylor Greene, who Hunter described as arguably the most MAGA member of Congress, expressed opposition on "The View," stating she doesn't "believe in regime change" or that "we should be engaging in war."

Meanwhile, Representative Thomas Massie questioned the administration's priorities during recent budget negotiations, asking how money exists for "regime change in Venezuela but not money to pay air traffic controllers in our country."

Trump routinely attacks Paul, Greene, and Massie while maintaining close ties with interventionist Senator Lindsey Graham. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom Trump calls "the best Secretary of State in US history," may be a driving force behind the Venezuela push, per Responsible Statecraft.

Public opinion, historical parallels

According to Responsible Statecraft, polls show a strong majority of Americans oppose war with Venezuela. Breaking Points host Saagar Enjeti warned in late October that "we are headed to a regime change effort in Venezuela based entirely on a false pretense (flimsier than WMD)."

 

 

 

 

 

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While recent congressional war power votes failed to constrain presidential authority, the bipartisan pushback represents an important shift. Since World War II, presidents from both parties have conducted military operations unilaterally and arguably unconstitutionally.

According to the report, the growing opposition from both parties to unchecked presidential war-making authority represents a positive development, one that could apply not just to Venezuela, but to all future conflicts.

Whether this congressional pressure will influence Trump's approach remains uncertain, though recent reports suggest the president may now be willing to engage in dialogue with Maduro.