Former US Vice President Kamala Harris has criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, saying the operation was motivated by oil interests rather than concerns about democracy or security.
In a tweet on X on Sunday, Harris said the action does not make the United States safer, stronger, or more affordable for its citizens, calling the move unlawful and poorly judged despite Maduro’s widely criticised record in office.
She warned the operation reflects a familiar pattern in which regime-change efforts framed as displays of strength ultimately create instability and raise costs for American families.
Harris said many Americans oppose the action and are frustrated by repeated misinformation surrounding US foreign interventions.
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She argued the operation has little to do with tackling drug trafficking or defending democratic values and instead serves Trump’s desire to assert dominance in the region while pursuing oil-related interests.
Harris also accused the administration of hypocrisy, saying the president has undermined Venezuela’s recognised opposition and engaged with figures linked to Maduro while presenting the operation as a moral necessity.
She added the decision puts US troops at risk, costs billions of dollars, destabilises the region, and lacks clear legal authority, an exit plan, or tangible benefits for Americans at home.
She wrote, “Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.
“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.
“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. 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.
“The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home.
“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.”
The remarks came after US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale overnight operation in Venezuela. Both have been indicted on drug-trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.