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Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his home city.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the top military officer informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a New York City jail cell.

This session marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, finding access for companies to operate in the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “one of transition.”

“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” one official stated. “We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.”

Political Divide Erupts in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and establish a troubling new norm for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.”

“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources at gunpoint for an undefined period as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation ought to have needed congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall public opinion echoes the political division on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.”

Global criticism has been rapid. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Broader Strategic Focus

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing defense concerns.

“China and Russia are operating off the coast Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no plans to ease pressure.

“Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of action to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”