{"id":2529036,"date":"2026-01-03T11:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T16:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-erupt-over-trumps-venezuela-strike-say-marco-rubio-blatantly-lied-to-congress\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T11:06:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T16:06:57","slug":"democrats-erupt-over-trumps-venezuela-strike-say-marco-rubio-blatantly-lied-to-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-erupt-over-trumps-venezuela-strike-say-marco-rubio-blatantly-lied-to-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats Erupt Over Trump&#8217;s Venezuela Strike, Say Marco Rubio &#8216;Blatantly Lied to Congress&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-erupt-over-trumps-venezuela-strike-say-marco-rubio-blatantly-lied-to-congress%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2529036&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump&#8217;s overnight military operation in Venezuela resulted in the capture of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife and prompted sharp partisan divisions in congress. Democrats condemned the raid as illegal, argued the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-your-guide-to-lawsuits-against-trumps-funding-freezes\/\" title=\"Here&#039;s Your Guide To Lawsuits Against ...&#039;s Funding Freezes\">president lacked authority<\/a>, said it put Americans at risk, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elise-stefanik-threatens-funds-to-colleges-as-anti-israel-campus-protests-resume-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Elise Stefanik threatens funds to colleges as anti-Israel campus protests resume - Washington Examiner\">accused administration officials<\/a> of misleading Congress about the operation&#8217;s aims. <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >republicans largely praised<\/a> the action as historic and protective of the hemisphere, with lawmakers from florida &#8211; home to large Venezuelan, Cuban and Nicaraguan exile communities &#8211; celebrating the development.A U.S. official reported ther were no casualties.Some supporters, including Sen. Mike Lee, said the president likely had constitutional authority under Article II to act to protect U.S. personnel. The piece notes the intervention was the most direct U.S. military action in Latin America since 1989 and recalls the Trump administration&#8217;s prior characterization of Maduro as an illegitimate leader tied to a drug-trafficking association.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Democratic lawmakers railed against President Donald Trump&rsquo;s overnight military operation in Venezuela on Saturday that resulted in the successful capture of socialist dictator Nicol&aacute;s Maduro and his wife.<\/p>\n<p>Congressional Democrats argued Trump lacked legal authority and that it was counter to American interests to use military force against Maduro&rsquo;s regime.<\/p>\n<p>Republican lawmakers largely praised Trump&rsquo;s military operation, with those representing South Florida&rsquo;s large Venezuelan community describing it as an &ldquo;historic day&rdquo; for the Venezuelan people and Latin America.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Second unjustified war in my life time,&rdquo; Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/phoenix\/2025\/12\/05\/kelly-gallego-2028-presidential-buzz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> presidential ambitions and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/democratic-senator-appears-threaten-military-amid-mark-kelly-investigation-will-consequences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">penchant for publicity<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RubenGallego\/status\/2007363343095607692?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote<\/a> on X shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This war is illegal, it&rsquo;s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year. There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Democratic New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorAndyKim\/status\/2007399987596906501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth &ldquo;blatantly lied to Congress&rdquo; about the Trump administration&rsquo;s objective in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn&rsquo;t about regime change,&rdquo; Kim wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>The New Jersey Democrat also argued the military operation &ldquo;put Americans at risk in Venezuela and in the region.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A U.S. official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/01\/03\/world\/trump-united-states-strikes-venezuela\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">told<\/a> The New York Times there were no casualties during the military operation.<\/p>\n<p>Across the Capitol, House Democrats similarly blasted Trump&rsquo;s use of force against Venezuela, which appeared to be the most direct military intervention in Latin America since former President George H.W. Bush&rsquo;s invasion of Panama in 1989.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He says we don&rsquo;t have enough money for healthcare for Americans&mdash;but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??&rdquo; Connecticut Rep. Jim McGovern, the lead Democrat on the influential House Rules Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepMcGovern\/status\/2007381598912819213?s=20\">wrote<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p>Florida Republicans lauded Trump&rsquo;s capture of Maduro on Saturday following the successful military operation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for changing the course of history in our hemisphere,&rdquo; Republican Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who spoke to Rubio following the successful military operation, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepCarlos\/status\/2007431203297640641\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a historic day in Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan exile communities in the nation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America,&rdquo; Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenRickScott\/status\/2007399340457775262\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote<\/a> on X. &ldquo;The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President Trump&rsquo;s leadership. God bless America and God bless the people of Venezuela!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee wrote Saturday that Trump likely had legal authority to conduct the military operation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This action likely falls within the president&rsquo;s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,&rdquo; Lee <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/2007395531023352319\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote<\/a> on X after speaking with Rubio.<\/p>\n<p>He also said U.S. military action in Venezuela was likely over with the seizure of Maduro, according to his conversation with Rubio.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has repeatedly&nbsp;<a class=\"c-link\" href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2025\/11\/24\/venezuela-rails-against-ridiculous-u-s-terrorist-designation-of-maduro-tied-cartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2025\/11\/24\/venezuela-rails-against-ridiculous-u-s-terrorist-designation-of-maduro-tied-cartel\/\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">characterized<\/a> Maduro as an illegitimate leader who led a cartel <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2025\/11\/17\/nicolas-maduro-venezuela-cartel-terrorist-organization-state-department-marco-rubio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">designated<\/a> as a terrorist organization to traffic drugs into the United States.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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