On Fox News Live Saturday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D‑AZ) defended the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela as beneficial for U.S. security but strongly criticized the Trump administration’s approach, saying it lacked congressional authorization and a clear plan for the future.
Host Mike Emanuel asked Gallego how Arizona — a border state — would be affected by Maduro’s ouster.
Gallego agreed that U.S. security improves when dictators like Maduro are no longer entrenched, but he quickly shifted to rebuke how the administration carried out the operation. He noted that just as Trump’s decision to pardon a former Honduran president with drug ties was controversial, so too is bypassing Congress for military intervention.
“Absolutely,” Gallego said when asked if Arizona is safer without Maduro. “But the most important thing is, don’t avoid the Constitution, don’t avoid Congress and asking for permission, especially when you’re going through these types of situations where you’re going to send men and women into war.”
Gallego argued that the administration should have consulted Congress before acting, emphasizing that the Constitution requires legislative approval for war or major military commitments. He warned that failing to secure that approval risks creating an open‑ended conflict.
“This is a problem that the president should have come and talked to us and worked with us,” Gallego said. “But not to the point where we are going to go to war at this point. And he didn’t even bother. And people are going to understand this is an illegal war. People do not want us to occupy Venezuela. Americans do not want to occupy Venezuela. We don’t want to go to war again for oil.”
Gallego also expressed uncertainty about whether removing Maduro will meaningfully reduce the flow of drugs into the United States, noting that much of the narcotics traffic originating from Venezuela is destined for Europe, not the U.S. border.
Despite his constitutional objections, Gallego said he supports strong measures against Maduro’s regime, including sanctions and designating narco traffickers as “narcoterrorists.” But he stressed that such actions should be coupled with a clear strategy and congressional oversight.
“Supporting sanctions and strong action is one thing,” he said. “But not having an end result in mind for the operation doesn’t make us safer.”
Gallego’s comments reflect broader concerns from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about executive authority, the proper role of Congress in authorizing military force, and the lack of a defined exit strategy or peace plan following the ouster of a foreign leader.
