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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, issued a serious warning on Saturday regarding President Donald Trump’s approach towards Venezuela. Schumer accused the president of inching the United States closer to another costly military conflict without securing the necessary congressional approval.
In a forceful statement, Schumer criticized Trump’s recent escalations regarding Venezuela, emphasizing that the president has disregarded the Constitution. He stated that the U.S. now faces the risk of entering an unnecessary war.
Schumer remarked, “President Trump’s reckless actions towards Venezuela are pushing America closer and closer to another costly foreign war. Under our Constitution, Congress has the sole power to declare war — not the President — and Congress has not authorized the use of military force against Venezuela.”
The minority leader urged the president to reconsider any plans for military engagement, highlighting that Americans are weary of endless foreign conflicts that claim the lives of countless service members and drain vital national resources.
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Schumer insisted that this approach does not align with an America First policy. He called for a bipartisan response, urging colleagues in Congress to unite in restoring the constitutional authority to declare war to the legislative branch.
The New York Democrat’s remarks followed a post by Trump on Truth Social, in which the president declared that Venezuela’s airspace should be regarded as entirely closed. Trump wrote, “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
This statement came shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration raised alarms about a deteriorating security situation in that region.
While addressing U.S. service members on Thanksgiving, Trump indicated that the U.S. would soon initiate operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers, focusing on land-based efforts. He stated, “In recent weeks, you’ve been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many. Of course, there aren’t too many coming in by sea anymore. Have you probably noticed that?”
During his address, Trump reiterated the deadly consequences of drug trafficking, noting that drug traffickers are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans annually due to the harmful substances they introduce into the country.
Trump has not dismissed the possibility of deploying American troops to Venezuela. He acknowledged on November 17 that he remained open to all options regarding military action.
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When asked about the potential for troop movements, Trump responded, “No, I don’t rule out that; I don’t rule out anything.” This remark underscores the unpredictable nature of U.S. military engagement under his administration.
On Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration’s military strikes targeting alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea. He stated that these strikes are part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling drug trafficking operations that harm American communities.
Hegseth wrote on social media, “As we’ve said from the beginning, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes.’ The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.”
This statement followed reports indicating that the U.S. military executed a second strike on a suspect vessel in the Caribbean after the initial attack resulted in two survivors.
Hegseth criticized media coverage of the strikes, arguing that it misrepresents the operations of U.S. forces and the seriousness of the threat posed by drug traffickers. He declared, “As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.”
The House Armed Services Committee, led by Chair Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, and Ranking Member Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, released a joint statement asserting their commitment to overseeing the Department of Defense’s military endeavors in the Caribbean. They emphasized that they take reports of subsequent strikes on narcotics smuggling vessels seriously and will pursue bipartisan action to ensure comprehensive oversight of military operations.
They stated, “We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question.”
Fox News Digital has sought comment from the White House concerning these ongoing developments. The political maneuvering surrounding this situation underscores the complexities of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and the implications for national security and constitutional authority.
Contributions to this report came from Fox News Digital’s Sophia Compton, Brie Stimson, Greg Norman, and Alexandra Koch.
