Former United States Vice-President and prominent Democratic figure Kamala Harris has strongly criticised recent actions by President Donald Trump in Venezuela, arguing that they do not make the United States “safer, stronger, or more affordable” and warning they could precipitate greater chaos both regionally and globally.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Harris acknowledged that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is a “brutal, illegitimate dictator” but said that this does not justify the Trump administration’s use of force or its handling of Venezuelan affairs. In her message, she described the president’s actions as “both unlawful and unwise.”
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris wrote, echoing a broader Democratic critique of the operation. “That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise.”
Harris drew on historical precedents to reinforce her argument, suggesting that U.S. interventions framed as efforts at regime change or in pursuit of strategic resources have often led to instability and hardship, particularly for ordinary families. “We’ve seen this movie before,” she wrote.
“Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price.”
She also criticised what she called misleading justifications for the U.S. action, asserting that the American public is weary of being misled about the true motives behind foreign interventions.
“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to,” Harris added, underscoring her contention that the Venezuela situation “is not about drugs or democracy” but rather about oil and President Trump’s desire to project himself as a regional strongman.
Harris further claimed that Trump’s approach risked American lives and amounted to an unjustified expenditure of billions of dollars without clear legal authority, a defined exit strategy, or tangible benefits for citizens at home.
“The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilising a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home,” she wrote.
She called for a shift in national priorities, urging leadership focused on lowering the cost of living for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening international alliances, and prioritising the welfare of the American people.
The remarks come amid fierce public debate over recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, including a daring early January operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife—an event that has drawn intense domestic and international scrutiny.
The Trump administration later announced plans for Venezuela to provide large quantities of oil to the United States, a decision that supporters say will aid U.S. energy security but which critics argue raises serious legal and ethical questions.
Republican lawmakers and pro-administration commentators have defended Trump’s actions, arguing they improve regional security and curb narcotics trafficking. Nonetheless, Harris’s remarks underscore deep partisan divisions over the legality, wisdom, and long-term implications of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Debate continues over the constitutional authority for the operations, their impact on U.S. foreign policy, and their broader ramifications for Latin America and global diplomatic norms.
