Pelosi needs to leave Trump alone.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday, accusing him of acting outside the law following the arrest and indictment of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Pelosi described the move as “hypocritical,” pointing to President Trump’s decision last year to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who had previously been convicted in U.S. court on drug trafficking charges.
In a post on X, Pelosi argued that the administration cannot justify its actions against Maduro on narcotics allegations while having granted clemency to Hernández, who was found guilty by an American jury. She emphasized that both cases involved similar crimes but were handled very differently.
President Trump granted the pardon in November, saying Hernández had been “treated very harshly and unfairly.” Trump also accused the Biden administration of politically targeting the former Honduran leader during his prosecution.
Earlier that same day, U.S. forces conducted targeted military strikes near Caracas, followed by the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump later confirmed in an interview that the couple were being transported to the United States aboard the USS Iwo Jima to face charges in federal court.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the indictments include multiple charges, ranging from narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracies to serious weapons offenses involving machine guns and explosive devices.
Pelosi responded by demanding formal briefings for Congress on both the military action and the administration’s long-term plans. She said lawmakers must be informed about the scope of the operation, any plans for regime change in Venezuela, and the steps being taken to prevent broader regional instability.
While acknowledging that Venezuela is ruled by what she called an illegitimate regime, Pelosi argued that the administration failed to demonstrate an immediate national security threat that would justify unilateral military action. She also criticized President Trump for not seeking congressional authorization, accusing him of bypassing the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Casualty figures remain unclear. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López claimed civilian areas were affected and said authorities were still assessing potential injuries and damage, according to reports from TeleSUR English.
Speaking later from Mar-a-Lago, President Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela during a transitional period. He also stated that the U.S. intends to take control of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, arguing that the country’s energy sector has suffered from decades of mismanagement.
Reaction on Capitol Hill was sharply divided. Democrats accused the administration of launching an unauthorized military operation, while many Republicans praised Maduro’s arrest as a decisive move against international drug trafficking.
Even some Republicans raised concerns. Rep. Thomas Massie questioned the legality of the action in a social media post, highlighting ongoing debate over presidential authority and Congress’s role in matters of war and national security.