New Hampshire’s congressional delegation has expressed strong dissent over the recent military action taken by the Trump administration in Venezuela, particularly the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. This operation unfolded around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday in Caracas. In subsequent statements, President Trump asserted that U.S. forces would govern Venezuela until a more favorable leadership is established.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, alongside Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, criticized the unilateral approach of the Trump administration, emphasizing the lack of prior consultation with Congress regarding these military strikes. Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pointed out that legislators were left uninformed about the administration’s intentions, raising significant concerns about the potential repercussions for U.S. national security and regional stability.

Goodlander labeled Maduro a “dictator and a thug,” commending the American military personnel involved while also questioning the legality and strategic rationale behind the operation. She argued that Congress should have a decisive role in such military engagements, referencing her sponsorship of the Unauthorized War with Venezuela Act. This proposed legislation seeks to prohibit military operations against Venezuelan forces without congressional authorization, underlining the constitutional powers vested in Congress to declare war.