Duckworth Reacts to Trump’s Actions in Venezuela
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding Trump’s actions in Venezuela:
“The American people believed Donald Trump when he promised on the campaign trail that he would get our nation out of foreign wars, but this morning we awoke to another stark reminder that he is—and has always been—a liar who has never cared about keeping his promises. The Constitution requires the American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, to authorize any President to engage in acts of war—because they will be the ones to live with the consequences of the decision—and it is unacceptable for this President to deny them that responsibility.
“While Trump—whose love of country is best measured by the number of times he dodged the draft during Vietnam—may believe that war is ‘like watching a TV show’ as he said this morning, he has never understood or appreciated that the true costs of war are measured not only in dollars and cents, but in the blood, sweat and sacrifices of our troops and our military families. Sadly, our troops understand all too well just how costly it can be when our nation engages in war without a plan for what comes next, destabilizing an entire region.
“Donald Trump’s reckless and unconstitutional operations in Venezuela—including this morning’s arrest of a foreign leader—are not about enforcing law and order because if they were, he wouldn’t hide them from Congress. Maduro was unquestionably a bad actor, but no President has the authority to unilaterally decide to use force to topple a government, thrusting us and the region into uncertainty without justification, a defined end-state or a real plan for preventing the instability that could come next. His actions continue putting American troops, personnel and citizens at risk both in the region and around the globe. None of that serves our nation’s interests.”
Rep. Bost Praises Trump's Decisive Action
Rep. Mike Bost: "President Trump has once again taken decisive action to protect America’s national security interests on the global stage. For years, Nicholas Maduro oversaw a deadly drug trafficking operation that flooded American streets with narcotics, destroying lives and tearing families apart in the process.
"Now, he will face justice. I pray the Venezuelan people seize this opportunity to restore democracy and freedom in their country. My thanks to President Trump and the brave members of the military and law enforcement who participated in this swift and successful mission."
Rep. Kelly condemns President Trump’s shortsighted attack on Venezuela
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) condemned President Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela in the following statement:
“Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate ruler who oppressed the people of Venezuela. But President Trump’s unilateral decision to attempt a regime change in Venezuela is shortsighted and drags the U.S. into a reckless conflict that could destabilize the entire region. I demand a vote on the War Powers Resolution to stop President Trump from launching further military action without Congressional approval.
“The American people did not ask to be involved in another foreign conflict, but President Trump now wants to ‘run the country.’ The President needs to stop acting like a dictator and start improving the lives of Americans, including people who actually voted for him. That is how a democracy should work. But President Trump’s attack on Venezuela does nothing to lower the cost of living for Americans and does everything to enrich himself and his billionaire oil-executive friends. Our focus should be here at home, lowering costs of healthcare, housing, and groceries.”
