President Donald Trump’s unauthorized military action in Venezuela aimed at capturing President Nicolas Maduro is reminiscent of a troubling era when the U.S. asserted the right to meddle in the affairs of nations across the Western Hemisphere. History shows that such interventions often ended in failure, fueling resentment against the U.S. in places like Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Chile, and the Dominican Republic.
The White House is currently spinning this unfortunate situation in hopes of appeasing the American public, including those in the anti-interventionist MAGA group who supported Trump’s election. Key figures involved in the narrative include Trump himself, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
At a recent press conference, Trump seemed to dig himself in deeper. He admitted that this illegal operation might pose dangers to U.S. military personnel. He talked about “running” Venezuela, yet failed to clarify what that meant when pressed. His vague suggestion that American companies should exploit Venezuelan oil appeared more like a desperate attempt to justify the action as being beneficial for the U.S. He and Rubio even hinted at future military actions against Cuba.
Calls are growing for Congress to step up and reclaim its war powers, as expressed by various lawmakers. It’s hard to assert that nations should respect one another’s sovereignty while the U.S. acts inconsistently. We commit to international human rights agreements that prohibit harming disabled combatants, yet how can we uphold these values while targeting shipwrecked individuals without disclosing they were on a secret military list?
The Constitution clearly stipulates that war shouldn’t commence without Congress’s approval. Yet here we are, with a president willing to deploy troops without notifying or consulting the legislature. What might come next? Could military action be taken to protect Iranian dissidents, enforce a ceasefire in Gaza, or even against American citizens peacefully protesting? Trump’s willingness to act without seeking legal clearance raises significant concerns.
The consequences of such unilateral actions—military attacks without oversight, unregulated tariffs, and disparaging rhetoric—tend to deteriorate relations with allies and empower adversaries. Recently, China has unveiled a strategy to strengthen ties with Latin American countries. Although these partnerships may often prove hollow or predatory, nations in our hemisphere seem more inclined to seek uncertain alliances than accept domination.
This military excursion not only risks pushing neighboring countries into the arms of our biggest strategic competitors, jeopardizing U.S. economic stability and security, but it also represents another example of broken promises from an unsteady president. With rising costs pressing on Americans, Trump appears more focused on pursuing conflicts than addressing their immediate needs.
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for Congress to assert its constitutional authority regarding war and foreign affairs. A bipartisan resolution aimed at ensuring there’s no military engagement with Venezuela without congressional authorization is on the agenda for a forthcoming vote. And it’s likely we’ll see more resolutions like this as the year unfolds.
As we mark 250 years of American democracy, we must guard against the tyranny our Founding Fathers aimed to escape.
