President Donald J. Trump acted like a lawless dictator when he ordered last Saturday’s military invasion of Venezuela without asking Congress to approve a declaration of war.
Article I of the Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power “To declare War.” Trump timed the attacks during a Congressional recess to avoid the law.
There was no imminent threat to justify the strikes, which were planned for months.
In an emergency, the Constitution gives the president 48 hours to share intelligence with party leaders, known as “The Gang of Eight.” Once again, Trump dismissed the law by only sharing his plans with select Republicans.
As a candidate for the House seat representing Indiana’s 2nd District, I cannot stand by and watch the president willingly disregard bedrock principles of our democracy.
Trump’s decision to bomb the Venezuelan capital and remove its leader, Nicolás Maduro, as part of the war on drugs, jeopardizes U.S. credibility and standing on the world stage.
Venezuela is not a major producer of fentanyl, the main target of this country’s drug war and source of tragic American deaths. Most of the cocaine that flows through Venezuela from Colombia lands in Europe.
If the president was dedicated to stopping illegal drug trafficking and saving American lives, how can he justify last month’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into our country?
Sadly, he can’t. This is what happens when a country elects a narcissist, who believes he answers to no one.
Trump’s actions mirror those of a war criminal. At his first post-invasion news conference, he said American oil companies would move to Venezuela and rebuild its oil infrastructure. Taking over its oil reserves confirms that intention. Now we must ask what deals have been offered and to whom?
All Americans should be concerned by imperialist U.S. air strikes as they will encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to justify his invasion of Ukraine, and embolden China to invade Taiwan, all while weakening our democracy.
The reckless attack on Venezuela further destabilizes the international order put in place after World War II ended 80 years ago. Trump was not elected to dismantle our ties to NATO and our allies.
Trump may believe that he has unlimited power and immunity from prosecution under U.S. law, but nothing shields him from being charged with violating international law. He brings not just international condemnation to the United States, but could face conviction for breaking the United Nations Charter.
No American president has ever been charged with such an offense, but then no president has ever been a convicted felon.
Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District Republican, Rudy Yakym, posted the following on Jan. 3 to X, formerly known as Twitter:
“Thank you @POTUS, @SecRubio, and @SecWar for holding narco-terrorist and drug trafficker Nicolás Maduro accountable. God bless our troops and law enforcement who executed a decisive operation to protect Americans and uphold justice.”
Yakym’s endorsement of Trump’s unlawful attack on Venezuela speaks volumes about his lack of knowledge of both the U.S. Constitution and international law.
Continuing to enable Trump renders the Congressman complicit and unfit to serve in Congress, as he swore to uphold the Constitution, not to encourage an aspiring dictator.
The constituents of the 2nd District deserve a representative who serves them.
We are now eight days into the New Year, and if Trump acts on his muttered threats to take over Greenland, Cuba, and Colombia, it might be time to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office. His recent actions demonstrate moral turpitude — conduct that violates moral standards — as well as a lack of mental acuity and intellectual capacity to lead the United States.
He needs to stop deflecting attention elsewhere and focus on pressing domestic problems, such as rising costs of health care, food, utilities, and housing.