US President Donald Trump declared during his second inaugural address that his administration's success will be measured "not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

Yet, growing signs indicate that the president may be preparing for another foreign conflict, this time in Venezuela.

According to an analysis by Responsible Statecraft, despite a history of campaign promises rooted in restraint, Trump is now facing mounting bipartisan criticism over his administration's covert and overt actions toward Venezuela.

Reports suggest that while the president has signaled openness to dialogue with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, intelligence and military developments indicate a parallel march toward conflict.

Trump’s shift toward military action in Venezuela

According to a report by The New York Times, Trump has approved CIA Venezuela operations that include covert measures to shape potential battle conditions on the ground.

This comes amid a broader narrative constructed by the administration, painting Maduro as a dictator, drug trafficker, and terrorist. Notably, Venezuela’s so-called "Cartel de los Soles" has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, and Maduro is falsely portrayed as its leader.

Simultaneously, US military forces have increased activity off the coast of Latin America, with continuing air and naval strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels. The Pentagon is also reportedly reactivating old military bases in the region, raising alarms about a slow build-up to possible intervention.

Read more: US faces outrage over killing of survivors in Caribbean strike

Congressional voices demand transparency, oversight

Members of Congress from both parties are questioning Trump’s strategic intentions, demanding clarity and legal justification for actions that resemble preparations for war.

In early November, Congressman Ro Khanna took to X to challenge Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, both Iraq War veterans, stating, “(Pete Hegseth) and (JD Vance) you were sent to fight a war that was based on a lie. Now you are asking Americans to trust intelligence for a war in Venezuela… What happened to you?”

Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, echoed similar concerns. “It’s long past time for Congress to finally get substantive and complete answers... and for the Administration to be transparent about its strategic intentions in the region,” he said.

On November 20, NPR reported that a group of mostly Democratic senators urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Hegseth to declassify the legal opinion justifying airstrikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. 

GOP division: From MAGA to interventionism

While the Democratic Party has broadly voiced opposition to unauthorized conflict, the Republican response has been notably split, with a widening rift between the antiwar MAGA base and traditional interventionist conservatives.

Senator Rand Paul criticized the administration on Face the Nation, warning, “The Admin is pretending we’re ‘at war’ with Venezuela to justify blowing up boats all without a vote, without transparency, and without answering to Congress.”

He added on X, “If it’s war, declare it. If it’s not, stop acting like it is.”

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who recently resigned from government, told The View, “I don't believe in regime change. I don't believe that we should be engaging in war... I don't think that we need to go out and attack other countries."

Similarly, Representative Thomas Massie, another frequent Trump critic, raised fiscal concerns, asking, “How is it that we have money for regime change in Venezuela but not money to pay air traffic controllers in our country?”

Despite these voices, Trump now appears more closely aligned with hawkish Republicans such as Senator Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio, the latter dubbed by Trump as “the best Secretary of State in US history.” Rubio has been instrumental in shaping the administration’s hardline stance toward Venezuela.

Is this another regime change war?

Critics argue that Trump’s actions mirror the early stages of previous US regime change efforts, particularly in Iraq. The comparison draws attention to intelligence claims about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that ultimately proved false.

“The simple fact is we are headed to a regime change effort in Venezuela based entirely on a false pretense (flimsier than WMD),” said Breaking Points host Saagar Enjeti in October. “Even more concerning is the anti-war right is silent and seems to believe the government claims about drug trafficking.”

Despite strong public opposition to a new war in Latin America, familiar narratives appear to be taking shape. The use of designations like “terrorist” and “narco-state” have historically served as pretexts for intervention.

The role of war powers and constitutional questions

While Congress has constitutional authority over war declarations, successive US presidents, both Republican and Democratic, have conducted military actions without formal authorization. Critics argue this pattern violates both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.

In the case of Venezuela, some lawmakers view the current situation as a test of Congress’s willingness to reclaim its authority.

Although war powers votes have failed to formally restrict the Trump administration, bipartisan voices demanding accountability are gaining visibility. Whether these voices can halt an impending conflict remains to be seen.

As Trump faces increased scrutiny for his evolving posture on Venezuela, both his critics and former allies are raising the alarm. The debate over covert CIA Venezuela operations, Congressional war powers, and regime change policy has revived fundamental questions about US foreign policy, and the constitutional limits of executive power.

Whether in Venezuela or elsewhere, many now hope the US will not repeat the mistakes of Iraq.

Read more: Bipartisan pushback grows against Venezuela military action