US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States would temporarily take control of Venezuela and tap into its vast oil reserves, sparking widespread outrage from critics who argue that the move was a brazen act of aggression against a sovereign nation.
The operation, which saw US forces swoop in on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's home at dawn, capped months of intense pressure from the Trump administration on South America's autocratic leader. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized by US agents, allegedly to face prosecution for participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
However, many are questioning whether this operation was lawful, as it appears to have been done without congressional approval. Legal experts and lawmakers from both parties in Congress have raised concerns about the move, demanding an immediate briefing from the administration on its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for the decision.
Trump claimed that the US would "fix" Venezuela's oil infrastructure and sell large amounts of oil to other countries, sparking accusations that the president was exploiting a power vacuum to pursue his own interests. Maduro's wife is expected to face charges in New York, while the US government does not recognize him as the country's leader.
As news of the operation spread, protests erupted across Venezuela, with some people celebrating and others demanding Maduro's return. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties condemned the move, with many calling for an explanation from the administration on its actions.
Meanwhile, the international community is weighing in on the situation, with the UN Security Council set to meet on Monday morning to discuss US operations in Venezuela. The US government has been accused of violating international law and disregarding Venezuelan sovereignty.
As the country teeters on the brink of chaos, many are left wondering what the future holds for Venezuela - or at least what the US plans to do with it.
The operation, which saw US forces swoop in on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's home at dawn, capped months of intense pressure from the Trump administration on South America's autocratic leader. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized by US agents, allegedly to face prosecution for participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
However, many are questioning whether this operation was lawful, as it appears to have been done without congressional approval. Legal experts and lawmakers from both parties in Congress have raised concerns about the move, demanding an immediate briefing from the administration on its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for the decision.
Trump claimed that the US would "fix" Venezuela's oil infrastructure and sell large amounts of oil to other countries, sparking accusations that the president was exploiting a power vacuum to pursue his own interests. Maduro's wife is expected to face charges in New York, while the US government does not recognize him as the country's leader.
As news of the operation spread, protests erupted across Venezuela, with some people celebrating and others demanding Maduro's return. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties condemned the move, with many calling for an explanation from the administration on its actions.
Meanwhile, the international community is weighing in on the situation, with the UN Security Council set to meet on Monday morning to discuss US operations in Venezuela. The US government has been accused of violating international law and disregarding Venezuelan sovereignty.
As the country teeters on the brink of chaos, many are left wondering what the future holds for Venezuela - or at least what the US plans to do with it.
this whole thing is crazy like what is trump thinking lol?? taking over venezuela without congress approval and now they're gonna sell all that oil? sounds like some shady business 
and Maduro's wife getting charged in NYC is just rubbing salt in the wound 
can't wait to see how this all plays out...
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this US move in Venezuela 
What's next? 
Trump is talking about "fixing" the oil infrastructure but really he's just trying to get his hands on that sweet, sweet Venezuelan oil 
It's shady, folks 
And what's with Maduro's wife facing charges in NY while they're not even a recognized leader 
Like, what are the US lawyers even doing here? 
. It's like they're trying to play a game of global chess without following any rules. And now Maduro's wife is going to face charges in New York? What about Venezuelan sovereignty, though? 
It's like the US just decided to be the puppet master and everyone else is just along for the ride.
It's like they're trying to set a precedent for future interventions. I'm all about stability in the region, but you gotta do it with diplomacy and respect for other countries' autonomy, not just military force 
.
Maduro wasnt even elected properly btw... but still, can we talk about the oil reserves for a sec? like, that's the real reason trump doing this 
. And let's be real, the US does need that oil 
... it's all just super messy right now 
.
. And now they're saying they're gonna "fix" Venezuela's oil infrastructure? Give me a break 
. That sounds like a total scam to make some extra cash off the country's resources.
.
. And what about all these international law experts who are saying the US is violating sovereignty and stuff? Yeah, I guess that's just a bunch of hooey 
.
they're so funny and cute! anyway back to Venezuela... i feel bad for Maduro and his wife, but at the same time, i'm like what's going on in that country, it seems like there's been a lot of corruption and stuff. do you think they'll be able to fix the oil infrastructure? 
. This isn't how you fix a country - it's more like some shady business deal that benefits only Trump and his friends 
. I mean, if Trump really cared about the people of Venezuela, he'd be working with them to find a solution, not trying to take over their country for his own gain 
.