Destroyed vehicles at La Carlota military air base, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026. / REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3 has drawn sharp reactions from Indian American leaders, who are split along party lines.

While Democrats have questioned the action’s legality, objectives, and implications for American foreign policy, Republicans have largely defended the operation as necessary to confront the Maduro regime and advance regional stability.

Also Read: Mock house, CIA source and Special Forces: The US operation to capture Maduro

Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam questioned the legality of the operation and pressed the administration for clarity. “Today’s military action in Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro was illegal. What’s the plan?” he wrote on social media.

Today's military action in Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro was illegal. What's the plan? pic.twitter.com/eeffLVWdmE

— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) (@RepSuhas) January 3, 2026

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal issued a detailed statement condemning the operation, saying that even Maduro’s illegitimacy did not give the U.S. president the authority to invade another country or forcibly remove its leader. 

Jayapal said the action was “illegal and unconstitutional,” undertaken without congressional authorization and without a plan for the future, warning that such actions risk further destabilizing the region. 

My full statement on Trump’s illegal actions in Venezuela to kidnap a foreign leader, force regime change, and his plans to indefinitely occupy Venezuela: pic.twitter.com/YuGHXuabRb

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 3, 2026

She also argued that if the operation were truly about combating drug trafficking, it would conflict with other recent U.S. decisions involving convicted foreign leaders linked to narcotics crimes. Jayapal called on Congress to intervene and reassert its constitutional authority over acts of war.

California Congressman Ro Khanna accused President Donald Trump of abandoning campaign pledges to avoid foreign wars and pursuing regime change. 

Donald Trump betrayed his MAGA base today launching a war of choice to bring regime change in Venezuela.

We keep voting against dumb wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, & Libya.

But our Presidents bow to a foreign policy blob committed to militarism. They get us entangled in conflicts…

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 3, 2026

“Donald Trump betrayed his MAGA base today launching a war of choice to bring regime change in Venezuela,” Khanna wrote, arguing that U.S. presidents repeatedly defer to what he described as a militarized foreign policy establishment while domestic priorities such as jobs and rising living costs go unmet. He warned the move could set a precedent for other global powers to justify military action.

Michigan Congressman Shri Thanedar said the strikes and Maduro’s capture were unconstitutional, stressing that only Congress has the authority to declare war. He called the president’s actions “totally unconstitutional and unacceptable,” adding that Americans want leaders to focus on affordability rather than “starting new wars.”

Last night, the US military conducted strikes across Venezuela and captured Venezeulan President Nicolas Maduro. Reports say that no US military members were killed.

Only Congress has the ability to declare war. President Trump's actions were totally unconstitutional and…

— Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) January 3, 2026

Adding to the criticism, Saikat Chakrabarti, who is running for Congress to represent San Francisco, accused the administration of pursuing regime change for economic interests. 

“Trump just kidnapped Maduro to do regime change in Venezuela for the oil,” Chakrabarti wrote, calling the operation “an illegal act of war without consulting Congress.”

Trump just kidnapped Maduro to do regime change in Venezuela for the oil. He campaigned on no new wars, but is proving to be the biggest warmonger President since Bush.

This was an illegal act of war without consulting Congress. The one who should be standing trial is Trump.

— Saikat Chakrabarti for Congress (@saikatc) January 3, 2026

The criticism was echoed by journalist and political commentator Mehdi Hasan, who linked the Venezuela operation to a broader pattern of military action. “Trump said he would try again for the Nobel Peace Prize this year so he began the year with… an illegal war of regime change in Venezuela, after spending Christmas Day bombing Nigeria,” he wrote.

He's mad she won the Nobel Peace Prize and he didn't. That's it. That's what it's all about. Best part is she idiotically and sycophantically dedicated her prize to him and he still won't back her and prefers to publicly denigrate on a day like today. https://t.co/qOpOm2Rqcv

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 3, 2026

In contrast, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley defended the action, describing Maduro as “a brutal socialist dictator who oppressed his people to enrich himself and his cronies.”

Haley said Venezuela’s decline had destabilized the region and argued that Maduro’s government sustained Cuba’s leadership with stolen oil. “The Venezuelan people deserve freedom,” she wrote, expressing hope the moment would mark “a new day for the Americas.”

Maduro was a brutal socialist dictator who oppressed his people to enrich himself and his cronies. Venezuela, once prosperous, has suffered years of repression and decline as he spread chaos across our hemisphere.

His regime also kept the Cuban dictatorship afloat with stolen…

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 3, 2026

Support for the operation also came from venture capitalist and political commentator Asha Jadeja Motwani, who praised President Trump and senior administration officials following Maduro’s capture. 

In a social media post, Motwani framed the development as a victory for the conservative movement and thanked Trump and senior Cabinet members for their actions.

 

Now that Maduro (a “socialist” thug) has been captured, will the Democrats be depressed? . The Conservative movement is fearless and unstoppable… Its here for next 20 years. . Kudos to those of us who believe in Keeping America Great! . Thank you President Trump, Secy…

— Asha Jadeja Motwani (@ashajadeja325) January 3, 2026

The criticism comes amid reports that the United States launched coordinated air and ground operations across Venezuela, including in Caracas, in what officials described as actions linked to narcotics trafficking and national security. U.S. authorities have said Maduro will face criminal charges in the United States and confirmed that no American service members were killed during the operation.