The US President himself gave the order for Maduro’s kidnapping.Image: keystone
Jan 6, 2026, 4:58 p.mJan 6, 2026, 4:58 p.m
On the night of Friday to Saturday, the head of state of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was kidnapped by the USA. This happened on the orders of US President Donald Trump.
Nicolás Maduro has been the highest-ranking man in Venezuela since 2013, and now he faces a trial and a prison sentence in New York. But there is criticism of the action from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Democrats
Elizabeth Warren
After Maduro’s arrest, Donald Trump declared that the USA would temporarily “govern” Venezuela until the country was stable and wealthy again.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned this explanation and warned that the US would plunge into war.
Elizabeth Warren is actually a lawyer.Image: keystone
The Massachusetts state senator argued that Trump is simply looking to benefit oil companies in Venezuela and doesn’t care about the country’s residents. She added that Republicans cannot adequately control Venezuela’s government.
Jeff Merkley
Jeff Merkley, the senator from Oregon, criticized the politicians’ attitude towards the leadership of Venezuela. He says it seems as if Trump wants to maintain the dictatorship. Just not with Maduro, but with the vice president.
Jeff Merkley has represented the state of Oregon in the Senate since 2009.Image: keystone
Merkley criticizes that Trump wants a dictator in Venezuela who only says “Yes, sir!” says and does what the USA tells him to do. This could become a big problem for the USA, says Oregon’s senator.
Adam Smith
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith told CNN that he believes the Trump administration does not have a “clear plan” for how to proceed in Venezuela. He also assumes that Trump wants to “rule” Venezuela because of its oil.
Adam Smith represents Washington State’s 9th Congressional District. Image: keystone
Smith described the action and kidnapping as “patently illegal and an exercise of presidential powers in clear violation of the Constitution.” He called on Republicans to step up and advocate for Congress to reassert its authority.
The Republicans
Rand Paul
Senator Rand Paul had long been critical of military action against Venezuela. The Kentucky senator called the weekend’s action “unconstitutional.”
Randal “Rand” Paul has been in the Senate since 2011.Image: keystone
Paul thinks that the action is undoubtedly a war. He also criticized the fact that, according to Trump, the action had been planned for months. There would have been enough time to ask the US Congress for permission.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene had already distanced herself from Trump’s policies in the fall of 2025 and opposed the Republicans. She also spoke clearly about the attack on Venezuela.
On Saturday, after Maduro’s kidnapping, she spoke out publicly against the action. On the same day, she wrote on “X” that “Americans’ antipathy to endless military aggression is justified.”
I’ve served on the Homeland Security Committee for the past three years. I’m 100% for strong safe secure borders and stopping narco terrorists and cartels from trafficking deadly drugs and human trafficking into America.
Fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of US drug…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) January 3, 2026
She further wrote that MAGA supporters were wrong. Because they voted in the presidential election to end such actions in other countries. But they were wrong about that.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s last day in Congress is next Monday, January 12th. She resigned after a public dispute with President Trump in November.