Democrats Call for Donald Trump’s Impeachment, Accusing Him of Being a War Criminal and Launching Illegal Military Strikes in Venezuela and Abducting President Nicolás Maduro Without Congressional Approval

Democrats Call for Trump’s Impeachment Over Venezuela Operation, Accusing Him of Illegal Strikes and Unlawful Detention of President Maduro

WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill have launched a coordinated push to impeach former President Donald Trump, accusing him of ordering illegal military strikes in Venezuela and authorizing the seizure of the country’s sitting president, Nicolás Maduro, without congressional approval.

In statements and floor remarks, Democrats argued that the operation violated the U.S. Constitution, the War Powers Resolution, and international law, describing the actions as an unlawful use of force against a sovereign nation. Several lawmakers went further, accusing Trump of conduct they say amounts to war crimes, citing the lack of authorization from Congress and the unprecedented detention of a foreign head of state.

“This was not self-defense, this was not authorized, and this was not legal,” one senior Democratic lawmaker said. “The Constitution is clear: the power to declare war belongs to Congress. What occurred in Venezuela was a unilateral act of war.”

According to Democrats, Congress was neither consulted nor notified before the military action was carried out. They argue that this bypassed Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the authority to declare war, as well as the War Powers Act, which limits the president’s ability to engage in hostilities without legislative approval.

Lawmakers also described the capture of President Maduro as an “abduction,” warning that detaining a sitting head of state without an international mandate or formal extradition process could destabilize global norms and expose U.S. leaders to legal jeopardy abroad.

“This sets a terrifying precedent,” another Democrat said. “If the United States claims the right to seize foreign leaders by force, no international system of law can survive.”

Republican allies of Trump have pushed back forcefully, arguing that the operation was justified on national security grounds and fell within the president’s authority as commander-in-chief. They contend that Maduro is an illegitimate leader and that decisive action was necessary to protect U.S. interests and regional stability.

Legal scholars remain divided. Some constitutional experts say the absence of congressional authorization raises serious legal questions, while others note that past administrations have also conducted military actions without explicit approval from Congress, though rarely involving the detention of a foreign president.

International reaction has been swift, with several governments and organizations calling for de-escalation and warning that the incident could trigger wider geopolitical fallout. Human rights groups have also urged transparency, accountability, and adherence to international law.

Democratic leaders say impeachment proceedings are now under active consideration, framing the issue as a defense of constitutional checks and balances rather than a partisan attack.

“This is not about politics,” one House member said. “This is about whether any president can launch an illegal war and detain a foreign leader without consequences.”

Whether the impeachment push gains enough traction to move forward remains uncertain, but the controversy has already reignited a broader debate over presidential war powers, executive authority, and the limits of American force abroad.