 "'Unlawful, unwise': Maduro's capture is about oil, not drugs or democracy, says Kamala Harris")
Former Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris on Saturday condemned the President Donald Trump administration’s latest operation in Venezuela, where they captured the country’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Harris called the operation ‘unlawful’ and ‘unwise’.
However, she acknowledged that Maduro is a “brutal” and “illegitimate” dictator but said that President Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.”
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris wrote. “That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise. We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price,” she added.
Harris brings up oil interests
The former Vice President made the remarks just hours after the Trump administration confirmed that Maduro and his wife were captured and transported out of Venezuela as part of “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
She also accused the administration of being motivated by oil interests rather than efforts to combat drug trafficking or promote democracy.
“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to. This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman,” Harris said. “If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies.”
Harris additionally accused the president of endangering US troops and destabilising the region. “The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilising a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home,” she said. “America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first,” she averred.
Quick Reads
View AllOn late Saturday, Maduro and his wife arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn late Saturday after being transported by helicopter from the DEA in Manhattan after being processed. Earlier on Saturday, Trump said that the US government will “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
However, the Venezuelan Supreme Court appointed Delcy Rodriguez as the country’s interim president. According to the Constitution of Venezuela, Rodriguez will have 30 days to conduct an election. However, given the situation, it remains unclear if she will be able to conduct such polls.
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