People gather for a news conference at the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Giovanna Dell'Orto)

Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz released statements Saturday critical of President Donald Trump for the U.S. military operation in which Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured and taken into custody.

“Nicolas Maduro should be held accountable for his actions, but Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to overthrow his regime does nothing to make our country safer,” said Hirono, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Instead, without any authorization from Congress or any clear plan for what comes next, Trump is plunging our nation into a conflict that could put American lives at risk while destabilizing the region and our relationships with our allies.

Hirono said Trump’s statement that the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela came without any details and shows his disregard for “the consequences of decades of misguided American intervention around the world.”

Schatz, a ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump is “jeopardizing American lives and interests” so U.S. oil companies can make money in Venezuela.

“Either these companies knew about these plans in advance, or he’s ordering corporations to be a part of his effort to overthrow another government,” Schatz said. “This operation is illegal under international law and unconstitutional without prior congressional approval.”