What Trump did
Re: “U.S. seizes foreign leader — Trump says America will run nation, sell its oil; raid blindsides Congress,” Sunday news story.
Regarding this headline, the “foreign leader” got there by force. His regime is unrecognized by the U.S. and more than 50 countries.
President Donald Trump did say that America will run the nation — until a democratically elected leader resumes power.
“Selling their oil” is not accurate. President Nicolás Maduro ran out the U.S. companies that had been invited there decades ago to develop Venezuela’s oil production infrastructure, took it over and kept the proceeds from the citizens of Venezuela. That is what Trump proposes to change.
Opinion
“Blindsided Congress.” Apparently, The Dallas Morning News presumes our Congress is blithely ignorant of the fact that the Department of Justice put a bounty on Maduro’s head five years ago, increased that bounty during the Biden administration, and again recently. Also, that bounty was to encourage the “arrest and capture” of Maduro.
I guess Trump should claim that bounty. But then, he’d just give it back.
Kenneth K. Ebmeier, Round Rock
The law was broken
President Donald Trump, Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary Marco Rubio ought to all be removed from office for arranging the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as for the bombing of the Venezuelan people.
It doesn’t matter if Maduro was possessed by the spirit of El Chapo, the law was broken. These acts are unequivocally violations of the War Powers Act, an instrumental piece of our nation’s checks and balances that stops the president from being judge, jury and executioner.
When presidents are allowed to unilaterally conduct acts of war, Americans unnecessarily die to protect the ego of the commander in chief. Look at the needless American deaths in Cuba as a direct result of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Any opposition to the congressional vote set to occur in the upcoming week is deeply unserious and not deserving of consideration. Congress needs to get off of the political sidelines and take the reins of control back from Trump and his Cabinet.
Having respect for the rule of law and public institutions is the only thing that separates nations from despotic rogue states.
Finnegan Motz, Dallas/Lochwood
Why pardon Honduran president?
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted in a court of law for smuggling 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned him and released him from prison.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is suspected of drug smuggling, so Trump invades his country and takes Maduro and wife prisoner and announces the U.S. will take over Venezuela.
Help me understand this.
Barton Clemmer, North Grand Prairie
Liberals hypocritical
In January 2025, just before President Joe Biden left office, the Biden administration offered $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. Now Kamala Harris and the Democrats give fake outrage since Maduro was arrested.
These hypocritical liberals and their brainwashed supporters are so ridiculous it hurts my brain.
Dennis Roberson, Fort Worth
Things I never imagined
It is not clear to me how the United States can simply help itself to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, and I’m not sure President Donald Trump has thought it through either. But the very idea that he has taken over a sovereign nation in order to help himself to its assets is patently obvious and disgraceful.
Every move he makes seems to be more antithetical to our American ideals than the one before. In my wildest imagination, I never dreamed we would ever be led by someone as morally wayward as this president.
Garry Potts, Dallas
Move City Hall to AT&T
Re: “AT&T to build global headquarters in Plano, leaving downtown Dallas campus in limbo,” online story.
If there was the epitome of a good news, bad news story, the AT&T corporate headquarters move to Plano is certainly bad news for the downtown business district.
However, the soon to be vacant buildings provide the best and, probably, most cost-effective solution for Dallas City Hall. Relocate all City Hall offices and staff to the AT&T buildings and demolish the existing Dallas City Hall and redeploy the land. A “win-win” if there ever was one.
And, the city manager’s office will not be challenged to come up with realistic financial figures of the cost to repair City Hall.
F. Howard Manning, North Dallas
Land of opportunity
Re: “Texas family escaped ‘woke’ America — Father back on front lines against Ukraine; rest vlog on YouTube,“ Sunday Metro story.
Thank you for publishing this article. In 1974, my experience was different.
I immigrated to America due to existing martial law in the Philippines. The economy and humanitarian support suffered. Graft and corruption became a cancerous system and the president had not done anything to stop it.
I decided to immigrate to America and after five years, I became a U.S. citizen and then petitioned for my parents and siblings, including their children, to follow me here in Texas.
They’ve had a wonderful new year helping to promote economic, military, medical and educational interests of Texas. America is the land of opportunity.
Rudy Maranca, Rowlett
Easing into the morning
Re: “Good morning, y’all — The early hours are the best time to write or make decisions,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.
Thank you to de Vinck for his uplifting words about routines and the habits of familiar and beloved people. Of course, we all have these habits.
For me, I like to “ease into the morning,” as my sister puts it — drink a cup of coffee and, yes, read The Dallas Morning News.
Now in my retirement, I find this routine enjoyable and satisfying. Typically, I tackle not Wordle, but the Commuter Crossword. I often make my day’s to-do list but, hold on, I’m retired — that can wait!
Glenda Solomon, Carrollton