SAVANNAH, Ga. — In the wake of a significant U.S. military action in Venezuela, legislators from Georgia and South Carolina are voicing their perspectives on the recent developments.
WATCH: President Trump addresses the nation after the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse.
In a statement made early Saturday via his Truth Social platform, President Trump revealed that a major military operation had taken place in Venezuela. This operation led to the apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Georgia
In response to these events, representatives from Georgia and South Carolina have begun to express their views regarding this sudden military intervention.
Representative Buddy Carter remarked that the indictment of Maduro marks merely the ‘beginning’ of further actions.
In a statement, Sen. Warnock (D-GA) called the move ‘a broken promise’ by President Trump.
“This is another broken promise by an unfocused President who is more concerned with foreign oil and regime change than solving Americans’ most pressing economic challenges. Americans want to know who is actually fighting for them?” the senator shared.
Rep. Mike Collins wrote on social media, “Narco-terrorist Maduro’s reign of terror has come to an end, and he will face justice for flooding our country with drugs and violence.”
Locally, the Bryan County Republican Party said the operation sent a ‘clear message’ to the world and that the United States will ‘not tolerate corruption.’
“Strong leadership matters, and accountability matters. God bless our country, our military, and our law enforcement personnel,” the Bryan County Republican Party said.
South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) defined the operation as an ‘amazing military achievement’. He said the seizure of the Venezuelan president would create a ‘path for freedom for the wonderful, highly intelligent, hard-working people of Venezuela.’
“It is in America’s interest to bring justice to Maduro, an illegitimate narcoterrorist dictator with American blood on his hands,” Graham said. “With Maduro’s capture, the drug caliphate is moving toward collapse. Free Cuba.”
Mac Deford, Democratic candidate for Congress in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, said President Trump had ‘no legal justification’ under federal or international law to launch military action without approval from Congress.
“Ignoring Congress is not decisive leadership. It is unlawful, dangerous, and destabilizing for our country and our standing in the world,” he said. Deford also called Maduro’s leadership a ‘tremendous suffering’ for the Venezuelan people.
“[Maduro’s] corruption, repression, and abuse of human rights are undeniable. But acknowledging that reality does not grant the President of the United States legal authority to violate Venezuela’s sovereignty or to pursue regime change without Congress.”
South Carolina Gov. McMaster (R-S.C.) shared on his social media:
“Once again, President Trump has demonstrated amazing leadership and resolve in protecting America’s safety and national security. This morning’s capture of Venezuelan narco-dictator Nicolas Maduro is a victory for democracy and human rights in our hemisphere. Please join me in thanking the men and women who successfully and professionally carried out this historic mission.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.):
“President Trump took bold and decisive action today. His brilliant decision to have the brave members of our War Department execute a dramatic operation to seize international narco terrorist Nicholas Maduro has made America safer and stronger than ever.
President Trump has once again shown the world what a strong, well-led America can do: strike anywhere, any time, against its enemies.
The Dictator Maduro thought he could peddle drugs into America and support terrorists, but President Trump showed him otherwise.”