By SUNTV Global Channel
January 4, 2026
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to launch military action in Venezuela, describing the move as illegal, unconstitutional and a dangerous violation of international law that could further destabilise the world.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, the Vermont senator accused President Trump of once again showing “contempt for the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law,” insisting that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally drag the United States into war.
“The president does NOT have the right to take this country to war on his own,” Sanders said, stressing that even opposition to the Venezuelan government does not justify bypassing Congress. “Even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Nicolás Maduro, the Constitution is clear.”
Sanders also rejected remarks attributed to Trump suggesting that the United States has the right to “run” Venezuela, calling such language reckless and dangerous.
“The United States does NOT have the right, as Trump stated this morning, to ‘run’ Venezuela,” Sanders said, warning that such claims undermine international norms and fuel global instability.
Calling for immediate legislative action, Sanders urged Congress to assert its constitutional authority by swiftly passing a War Powers Resolution to halt what he described as an illegal military operation.
“Congress must act now to end this unlawful use of force and reassert its responsibilities under the Constitution,” he said.
The senator warned that the U.S. military intervention would have far-reaching consequences, arguing that it would make both America and the wider world less safe. According to Sanders, the attack represents a “brazen violation of international law” and sets a precedent that could be exploited by other global powers.
“This is the same horrific logic of force that Vladimir Putin used to justify his brutal invasion of Ukraine,” Sanders said, drawing parallels between U.S. actions in Venezuela and Russia’s aggression in Eastern Europe.
Sanders further accused the Trump administration of pursuing imperial ambitions in Latin America, pointing to repeated references by administration officials to reviving the Monroe Doctrine. He alleged that senior officials have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, which are among the largest in the world.
“That is rank imperialism,” Sanders declared. “It recalls the darkest chapters of U.S. intervention in Latin America — chapters that have left a devastating legacy of instability, suffering and resentment.”
He added that the current military action “will and should be condemned by the democratic world.”
Turning to domestic concerns, Sanders criticised President Trump for prioritising foreign military operations while serious problems persist at home. He noted that Trump campaigned as an “America First” leader and portrayed himself as a “peace candidate,” arguing that his actions in Venezuela directly contradict those promises.
“At a time when nearly 60 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, when our healthcare system is collapsing, when housing is unaffordable, and when artificial intelligence threatens millions of jobs, the president should be focused on the crises facing this country,” Sanders said.
Instead, he argued, Trump is engaging in what he described as “military adventurism abroad” while neglecting his core responsibilities to the American people.
In a closing remark, Sanders delivered a stinging rebuke of the president’s leadership priorities.
“Trump is failing in his job to ‘run’ the United States,” he said. “He should not be trying to ‘run’ Venezuela.”
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor reactions from Washington and the international community as pressure mounts over the legality and consequences of the U.S. military action in Venezuela.
