Former United States Vice President Kamala Harris has criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, arguing that the operation was motivated by oil interests rather than democracy or security concerns.
In a post on X on Sunday, Harris said the action does not make the United States safer or more affordable, describing it as unlawful and poorly judged despite Maduro’s widely criticised record in office.
She warned that the move reflects a pattern of regime-change interventions that are often presented as strength but ultimately result in instability and higher costs for American families.
Harris further accused the Trump administration of hypocrisy, saying the operation had little to do with drugs or democratic values and instead reflected a desire to assert regional dominance.
She wrote, “Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” adding that, “This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.”
The comments followed the capture of Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US forces during an overnight military operation in Venezuela, after which both were indicted on drug-trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.