Texas Republicans and Democrats running for the U.S. Senate have split sharply over President Donald Trump’s military operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, an early flashpoint over foreign policy and presidential authority.
On the Republican side, candidates praised the strikes as decisive action to take down a criminal regime. Democratic candidates condemned it as reckless, accusing Trump of executive overreach and ignoring domestic needs.
The mission also stirred unrest among anti-intervention conservatives and drew criticism from congressional leaders left out of advance notice. Trump said he bypassed Congress because lawmakers could not be trusted to keep the plan secret.
In Texas, the major GOP Senate contenders backed the capture of Maduro and his wife, casting it as a show of U.S. strength and deterrence.
Political Points
Republican Sen. John Cornyn, seeking a fifth term, offered “kudos” to Trump, arguing Maduro was not only an illegitimate president but also the head of a drug trafficking network involving senior Venezuelan officials.
Cornyn cited Maduro’s federal indictment in New York on narco-terrorism charges and tied the Venezuelan leader to Iran, Hezbollah and sanction-evading “ghost fleets” linked to Russia, Iran and China.
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging Cornyn in the March 3 GOP primary, also offered support. He reposted a statement from Vice President JD Vance asserting Trump had offered diplomatic off-ramps and followed through when they failed.
Paxton added his own endorsement: “Strong work.”
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, another Republican contender who highlights his Army service, called the operation “extraordinary” and a “masterstroke” of Trump’s presidency.
Hunt said Venezuela had become a narco-terrorist enterprise and criticized what he described as past interventionist failures that cost lives and trillions of dollars.
The leading Democratic candidates for Senate, state Rep. James Talarico and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Compos
The leading Democratic Senate candidates condemned the move as unconstitutional and reckless. They argued it contradicted Trump’s own promises about foreign intervention and ignored priorities at home.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas said Trump was launching a new war without congressional authorization, and she warned of unchecked presidential power and costly escalation.
“People can’t afford groceries and millions are losing healthcare, but this is where his focus is,” she said in a social media post, calling the action unconstitutional.
State Rep. James Talarico of Austin framed it as corrupt.
He pointed to Trump’s past support of oil executives and said the operation effectively handed them access to Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves.
“This new war is not only illegal and reckless,” Talarico said, “it is deeply corrupt.”
The backlash did not come solely from Democrats.
Parts of Trump’s political base, including those tied to the MAGA movement, said the strikes undercut Trump’s past pledges to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts.
“This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong,” said former Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, in a social post.
Trump, asked at news conference Saturday how seizing Venezuelan oil fits his “America First” agenda, said, “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors.”
Venezuela clash
Quick takes from Texas Senate candidates:
Republicans
Sen. John Cornyn – Kudos, justifiedAttorney General Ken Paxton – Strong workU.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt – Masterstroke
Democrats
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett – Unconstitutional State Rep. James Talarico – Illegal, corrupt