Donald Trump Gets New Warning Over US Attacking Venezuela

By Dan Gooding and Jason LemonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned in a speech on the Senate floor Monday that he will "immediately" file a bipartisan war powers resolution to block the use of American troops in Venezuela if President Donald Trump orders strikes targeting the South American nation.

"Should a strike occur, we will force a debate in Congress and force a vote to prevent U.S. troops from being in hostilities against Venezuela," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. "Our troops' safety and our national security are at stake."

Trump said Saturday on Truth Social that airlines and pilots should consider Venezuela's airspace "CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," raising alarm from critics that he could be planning strikes directly targeting the country. The warning from the president came after his administration targeted a series of boats off Venezuela's coast that were allegedly carrying drugs.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration is facing growing scrutiny over its handling of strikes on alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, after it emerged a second strike was carried out on an already-hit boat in September. The president has argued he has full authority to carry out the attacks in order to defend the United States from cartels, but an escalation in such efforts, in this case in Venezuela, would need Congressional approval.

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What To Know

Schumer's remarks Monday included a plea to his Republican colleagues to back him should the need arise to introduce a resolution, saying Americans were "sick to their stomachs" at the thought of another war, which he said Trump appeared to be planning in secret.

"All it takes is one lapse in judgment from either side, and suddenly our troops could find themselves in an armed conflict with Venezuela," Schumer said.

The minority leader also criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, calling the former Fox News host "so obviously insecure" and someone who loved to boast about the lethality of the American armed forces while not taking the role seriously.

"This man is a national embarrassment," Schumer said of Hegseth, who has faced the most scrutiny over the September strike for authorizing the operation that killed survivors on the vessel that had been struck in the Caribbean.

Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered the justification for the September 2 strike after lawmakers from both parties on Sunday announced support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

“The president has the right to take them out,” Leavitt said of alleged drug vessels, if they are “threatening the United States of America.”

Leavitt did not dispute a Washington Post report that there were survivors after the initial strike in the incident. Her explanation came after President Donald Trump, a day earlier, said that he “wouldn’t have wanted that—not a second strike” when asked about the incident.

After the Post’s report, Hegseth said Friday on X that “fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.”

“Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote.

The Trump administration says the strikes in the Caribbean are aimed at drug cartels, some of which it claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump is also weighing whether to carry out strikes on the Venezuelan mainland.

Schumer called for greater transparency from the Trump administration on Monday, if there is nothing to hide.

Last week, Schumer issued a similar warning about Trump's actions toward Venezuela. He wrote in an X post: "President Trump’s reckless actions towards Venezuela are pushing America closer and closer to another costly foreign war. Under our Constitution, Congress has the sole power to declare war — not the President — and Congress has not authorized the use of military force against Venezuela."

What People Are Saying

Republican Kentucky Senator Thomas Massie, on X: “How is it that we have money for regime change in Venezuela but not money to pay air traffic controllers in our country? @SpeakerJohnson call us back and let’s vote to fund the parts of government that people actually want or need: air traffic controllers, soldiers, WIC, etc."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, November 28 on X: "As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be 'lethal, kinetic strikes.' The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization."

What Happens Next

Leavitt confirmed that Trump would later on Monday hold a meeting with his national security team to discuss ongoing operations in the Caribbean Sea and potential next steps against Venezuela.

This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.

Update 12/01/25, 5:14 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

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