Gavin Newsom Condemns Donald Trump Over Venezuela Operation, Says Trump Is the Last Person Fit to “Correct a Bad Act,” and Argues That Even Brutal Dictator Nicolás Maduro Would Be a Better President Than Trump in America

Gavin Newsom Condemns Trump’s Venezuela Actions, Says He Is Unfit to Judge Morality and Claims Even Maduro Would Be a Better President

California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply condemned former President Donald Trump over his actions in Venezuela, joining a growing chorus of Democratic leaders denouncing the military operation that led to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Newsom argued that Trump has no moral authority to justify the operation and described him as “the last person who should be correcting a bad act.”

In a blistering statement, Newsom acknowledged that Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator responsible for widespread suffering in Venezuela, but said that reality does not excuse what he called Trump’s reckless and unlawful behavior.

“Maduro’s brutality is not in dispute,” Newsom said. “But Donald Trump is the last person who should be lecturing the world on justice, democracy, or morality. His actions undermine the rule of law and damage America’s standing globally.”

Newsom went even further, making one of his most provocative remarks to date by suggesting that, in the context of American governance, Trump has proven himself more dangerous than the Venezuelan strongman.

“As shocking as it may sound, even a brutal dictator like Maduro would be a better president than Donald Trump in America,” Newsom said, clarifying that his statement was meant to underscore what he described as Trump’s disregard for democratic norms, constitutional limits, and international law.

The comments come amid intense scrutiny of Trump’s Venezuela operation, which has sparked legal and constitutional questions in Washington and drawn condemnation from international leaders. Critics argue the operation violated U.S. law, bypassed Congress, and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral military action and the detention of a foreign head of state.

Newsom emphasized that confronting authoritarian leaders requires diplomacy, multilateral pressure, and adherence to the rule of law—not unilateral force.

“When the United States abandons its own principles, we lose the moral high ground,” he said. “You don’t defend democracy by acting like the very authoritarians you claim to oppose.”

Trump allies have dismissed the criticism as politically motivated and inflammatory, while supporters argue the former president took decisive action against a leader accused of corruption and criminal activity. However, Newsom and other Democratic leaders insist that legality and restraint are essential, regardless of the target.

Newsom’s remarks add to mounting political pressure as lawmakers and legal experts continue to debate the consequences of the Venezuela operation. The growing backlash reflects a broader concern among Democrats that Trump’s foreign policy approach, if normalized, could fundamentally alter how the United States engages with the world.

“This isn’t about defending Maduro,” Newsom concluded. “It’s about defending the Constitution, the rule of law, and the values that are supposed to define America.”