As lawmakers reacted to President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Venezuela and arrest its president, progressive Democrats said they knew what was to blame: the United States’ desire to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
The arguments were similar to those against then-President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and depose Saddam Hussein decades ago as part of the global war on terror.
Fossil fuel foe Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said: “We’ve seen what happens when we destabilize countries on behalf of American fossil fuel CEOs: They profit, our servicemembers get hurt or die, and regions collapse. We are falling into the patterns of the past that put lives and economies in danger. How do we prevent a civil war from erupting like it did in Iraq?”
The administration has been in touch with oil companies about investing in Venezuela. In exchange for new investments, the companies could see compensation for rigs, pipelines and other equipment lost when the country nationalized production, according to POLITICO.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure and start making money for the country,” Trump said Saturday.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said about the operation, “It’s about oil and regime change.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said, “Trump and his administration have often said they want to revive the Monroe Doctrine, claiming the United States has the right to dominate the affairs of the hemisphere. They have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. This is rank imperialism.”
Former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who stuck a relatively moderate tone on oil and gas during her 2024 campaign, also pointed to Venezuela’s energy riches.
“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman,” Harris said in a statement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) were more measured in a statement questioning the administration’s action.
“President Trump’s announced plan to run Venezuela is unacceptable. It is critical that the Trump administration provide an immediate Gang of Eight briefing, followed by briefings for all Members of the House and Senate early next week,” they said.
Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) initially wondered about the legality of Trump’s attack. He said a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio assuaged his concerns.
“I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force,” Lee wrote on X early Saturday morning.
After speaking with Rubio, Lee said, “He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant. This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”
