Florida Democrats reacted to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and President Donald Trump’s military strikes in Venezuela, with one Congressman calling it all “illegal.”
After the successful military strikes, capture and arrest of Maduro, the Florida Democratic Party said that “Congress and the American people were entirely bypassed,” and claimed that “Trump acted as though he did not need Congress, the American people, or our allies.”
Congressman Maxwell Frost, an Orlando Democrat, said that he “shed no tears for Maduro’s loss of power,” but added that he does “shed tears for the destruction of our own democracy,” while calling the American President an authoritarian. Rep. Frost did also say that “Maduro was a brutal dictator and an authoritarian,” admitting the former illegitimate leader of Venezuela “repressed, jailed, disappeared, and murdered his people for over a decade.” That makes his “authoritarian” comparison to President Donald Trump more politically charged.
Other Florida Democrats were also happy that Nicolás Maduro was removed, celebrating the action before turning back to politics and political attacks. “Capturing the murderous Dictator Maduro is a major step towards a #VenezuelaLibre,” Central Florida Democratic Congressman Darren Soto posted before shifting back to attacking the Republican President. “Trump’s failure to seek Congressional approval for these strikes raises serious questions about the legality of the mission. The Administration made multiple false promises that it would not invade Venezuela without Congressional consent. Congress must now conduct extensive hearings on the attack and all efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela.”
Florida Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody celebrated the arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro and stood in support of the Venezuelan community.
The Florida Democratic Party also shared brief hope for Venezuela before turning to politics. “My hope is that this moment opens a real path to democracy for the Venezuelan people, who deserve the chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo González,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried stated. “However, Congress and the American people were entirely bypassed. Acting without congressional authorization risks deepening chaos and instability, prolonging the very illegitimacy this action claims to end. This was not a transparent or lawful process, it was unilateral regime change with no clear plan for what comes next. Once again, Trump acted as though he did not need Congress, the American people, or our allies.”
“What President Trump is doing in Venezuela is illegal, dangerous, and outside the bounds of his constitutional authority,” Orlando Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost said. “No President can unilaterally drag our nation into a war without congressional authorization — and his claim that the United States is now ‘going to run the country’ of Venezuela until a so-called ‘proper transition’ takes place is unacceptable and unconstitutional. History has shown us that these regime change wars end up with more dead, all to benefit mega-corporations.”
The Florida Democratic Party also fears there is more to this action by the President. “Let’s be clear: this appears far more about oil than about democracy or regional stability. Trump lied and repeated promises to avoid new wars and to put American interests first, now it will be oil companies and billionaires who will see the benefits- not the American people,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried stated.
Congressman Maxwell Frost also mentioned immigration issues related to Venezuela. “President Trump thinks that Maduro is a big enough problem to take illegal actions in Venezuela, but not a big enough problem to provide Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status,” he said. “He’s willing to risk American and Venezuelan lives for political gain, but refuses to extend a critical legal lifeline to families fleeing the very crisis he claims to oppose.”
The Orlando Democrat also emphasized that Congress should be more active. “I shed no tears for Maduro’s loss of power. But I do shed tears for the destruction of our own democracy. Authoritarians like Donald Trump will always seek justification to break the law in order to start foreign wars for unclear reasons. Congress cannot give him an inch, or there will be much more reckless behavior that endangers lives and allows him to consolidate more power,” Rep. Maxwell Frost said. “Congress must immediately vote on a War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s illegal actions.”
