Many U.S. lawmakers have remained mum about the attack on Venezuela, despite international condemnation.
WASHINGTON, January 5, 2026 — Representative Ro Khanna (D-California) is demanding that Congress assert its war powers throughout January to prevent President Donald Trump from launching further military interventions, citing threats and actions against six nations in the past three weeks. The escalating situation has sparked debate over presidential authority and the limits of executive power.
Congress must act decisively to prevent further unauthorized military actions by the executive branch.
- Khanna calls for daily votes on War Power Resolutions to block potential invasions.
- Trump has openly threatened military action against Cuba, Colombia, Greenland, Nigeria, Panama, and Iran.
- The bombardment of Caracas and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have drawn international criticism.
- Some lawmakers are discussing impeachment proceedings, while others express concern over a lack of congressional briefing.
In a post on X, Khanna stated, “As a response to the illegal strikes in Venezuela, Congress must force votes and debate every day this month on War Power Resolutions” aimed at preventing invasions of Cuba, Colombia, Greenland, Nigeria, Panama, and Iran.
Following the Trump administration’s bombardment of Caracas and the alleged kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has reportedly threatened five additional countries. He reiterated his long-held desire to annex Greenland, warned Mexico and Colombia of military operations framed as efforts to end drug trafficking—similar to the Maduro operation—and declared that Cuba is “ready to fall.”
Trump also renewed his threats against Iran, having previously announced on Truth Social that the U.S. is “locked and loaded” and prepared to attack in response to reports of protest suppression. On Monday, he signed a hat for Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) emblazoned with the phrase “Make Iran Great Again.”
The administration also bombed Nigeria on Christmas Day, after previously threatening a military intervention “guns-a-blazing” based on what critics describe as a fabricated narrative of Christian persecution.
“It is time for Congress to wake up & do our job,” Khanna said.
Maduro’s abduction and the bombardment of Venezuela, which Venezuelan officials claim resulted in at least 80 deaths, have been widely condemned as a severe breach of international law. Several lawmakers have also criticized the administration for potentially exceeding Congress’s constitutional authority regarding declarations of war.
Axios reported that Representative Jared Huffman (D-California) was among a group of lawmakers considering impeachment, stating: “We are in 25th Amendment territory now.”
Other Democrats, like Khanna, have urged their colleagues to invoke Congress’s war powers. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) said in a statement, “The American people did not ask for this act of war to bring about regime change in Venezuela — nor did Congress authorize it. This is not about demolishing a dictatorship… This is about trying to grab Venezuela’s oil for Trump’s billionaire buddies.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued a statement after the attack on Saturday, calling for Congress to “immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to end this illegal military operation and reassert its constitutional responsibilities.” He described the action as “rank imperialism” that “recalls the darkest chapters of U.S. interventions in Latin America” and predicted it would be “condemned by the democratic world.”
However, some Democrats have hesitated, with one unnamed House Democrat telling Axios, “I think it looks weak” to condemn the attack. “If you don’t acknowledge when there is a win for our country, then you lose all credibility.”
The muted response from some Democrats may reflect the cautious statements from party leaders. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries began his statement on the attack by labeling Maduro “a criminal and authoritarian dictator,” while also criticizing the administration for failing to brief Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) similarly called Maduro an “illegitimate dictator,” characterizing the action as “reckless,” and requesting a congressional briefing. In a subsequent interview, he noted that “the American people are scratching their heads” over Trump’s threats to other nations.
