Graham says Trump has 'all the authority he needs' in Venezuela strikes
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that President Donald Trump plans to brief lawmakers on U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, as the president considers potential land strikes against Venezuela in his ongoing campaign against drug trafficking.
Although Trump has argued that the at least 10 strikes his administration has carried out against suspected drug boats are necessary to put traffickers and cartels “on notice,” lawmakers from both parties have been increasing calls for greater oversight and proof supporting the strikes’ legality.
Trump is expected to brief lawmakers after he returns from his trip to Asia, which concludes on Thursday, Graham told CBS News Sunday Morning.
Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro during celebrations for the Independence Day, in Caracas on July 5, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)
“President Trump told me yesterday that he plans to brief members of Congress upon his return from Asia about possible future military operations against Venezuela and Colombia,” Graham said. “So there will be a congressional briefing about potentially expanding operations from the sea to the land. I support that idea, and I believe he already has all the authority he needs.”
Additionally, Trump is prepared for Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, to step down from power, according to Graham. When asked whether a regime change was underway, Graham responded affirmatively.
“I think President Trump has decided that Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, is an indicted drug trafficker and that it’s time for him to go,” Graham said Sunday. “Venezuela and Colombia have been safe havens for narco-terrorists for far too long.”
The Trump administration maintains that it does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state, instead labeling him the leader of a drug cartel. In August, it raised the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, describing him as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.”
Trump has signaled for several weeks that he is considering launching land operations against Venezuela, and on Friday, the Pentagon announced that the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford would be deployed to the region.
In response, Maduro accused Trump of “fabricating a new eternal war.”
“They promised they would never again get involved in a war, yet they are fabricating one,” Maduro said during a national broadcast on Friday.
Trump Highlights U.S. Strike as Maduro Condemns Military ‘Threat’ Near Venezuela
The White House did not confirm or deny whether Trump would brief lawmakers when asked by Fox News Digital. However, a senior administration official told the outlet that Congress has already received seven separate classified briefings on the matter since early September.
The Trump administration has largely remained tight-lipped regarding efforts to remove Maduro, and earlier in October, Trump declined to answer reporters’ questions about whether the CIA had the authority to “take out” him.
Meanwhile, lawmakers — including some Republicans — are demanding answers about the strikes. For instance, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a War Powers resolution that would prohibit U.S. armed forces from engaging in “hostilities” against Venezuela.
Sen. Tim Kaine speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, March 13, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The Trump administration has made it clear that they may carry out military action within Venezuela’s borders and won’t limit themselves to strikes on boats in the Caribbean,” Schiff said in a statement on October 17.
“In recent weeks, we have observed increasingly concerning developments and reports that challenge the notion that this is solely about stopping drug traffickers,” Schiff said. “Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela, and we must assert our authority to prevent the United States from being drawn — whether intentionally or accidentally — into a full-scale war in South America.”
Trump has brushed aside lawmakers’ concerns about the legality of the strikes, stating on October 14 that the suspected drug vessels are “fair game” because they are “loaded up with drugs.”
0 Reviews:
Post a Comment