FLORIDA, USA — Political figures from Florida are weighing in on the U.S. military’s intervention in Venezuela, which led to the capture of the nation’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, under the orders of President Trump.

In the early hours of Saturday, a series of explosions reverberated through Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, as aircraft flew low overhead. Maduro’s administration accused the U.S. of targeting both civilian and military sites, labeling the move an “imperialist attack” while calling on citizens to protest in the streets.

At a press briefing on Saturday, Trump announced that the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela during its transition period to stabilize the nation and resume oil production.

The operation, which unfolded in less than half an hour and included at least seven explosions, drove residents into the streets and prompted many to share their experiences online. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reported fatalities among both Venezuelan civilians and military personnel, though she did not specify numbers. President Trump acknowledged that some U.S. troops were injured but stated he believed there were no fatalities among American forces.

Video obtained from Caracas and an unidentified coastal city show tracers and smoke clouding the landscape as repeated muted explosions illuminate the night sky. Other footage shows cars passing on a highway as blasts illuminate the hills behind them. The videos were verified by The Associated Press.

Here’s how politicians around Florida are reacting to the operation Trump called “a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives.”

Most of the U.S. representatives from Florida’s delegation have issued statements since Trump spoke during the press conference. Most of the representatives celebrated the capture of Maduro and what they say it means for national security, touting the U.S. military’s capabilities and others questioned the legality of the actions taken by the U.S. against Venezuela.

“Today, America is safer and Venezuela is free. Only our professional, highly trained warriors could have pulled off an operation this successful and without American casualties,” Rep. Greg Steube stated.

“This marks a significant step toward strengthening security for the United States,” Rep. Aaron Bean stated on X. 

“Thank you to our brave military servicemembers who conducted the successful mission to capture narco-terrorists Nicolas Maduro and his wife,” Rep. John Rutherford said. “They will finally face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. We are all safer because of President Trump.”

“The bottom line is,” Rep. Cory Mills said, “without hesitation, America will defend its national security, uphold stability, and protect freedom in our own backyard.”

“To the many Venezuelans celebrating in Florida and across the country, freedom is coming back!” Rep. Lauren Lee stated.

“Capturing the murderous Dictator Maduro is a major step towards a #VenezuelaLibre,” Rep. Darren Soto stated. “Now there must be concerted efforts to ensure the democratically elected Edmundo Gonzalez is seated as the rightful new president.”

Soto noted that Trump’s failure to get approval from Congress “raises serious questions about the legality of the mission.” Concerns about the military strike were echoed by other representatives.

“What President Trump is doing in Venezuela is illegal, dangerous, and outside the bounds of his constitutional authority,” Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost stated. “Nicolás Maduro was a brutal dictator and an authoritarian. He has repressed, jailed, disappeared, and murdered his people for over a decade. I stand against authoritarianism, no matter the nation.”

“No President can unilaterally drag our nation into a war without congressional authorization — and his claim that the U.S. is now ‘going to run the country’ of Venezuela until a so-called ‘proper transition’ takes place is unacceptable and unconstitutional,” Rep. Frost added.

Rep. Kathy Castor stated she wants to see better for families and friends in Tampa Bay who “suffered under the oppressive Maduro regime,” and added that the “attack on Venezuela, without the approval of Congress, violates the U.S. Constitution.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz stated that no one will miss Maduro and thanked the U.S. military. “However, any actions we take to end the illegitimate rule of Maduro must be in line with our Constitution,” Moskowitz said. “After being told by the administration that the correct congressional leaders would be briefed, there is no evidence that this took place.”

“Venezuela deserves a stable democratic future where human rights are protected and the Venezuelan people can finally live in freedom,” Rep. Frederica Wilson posted on X, adding that people in Venezuela had endured an oppressive regime. “The Administration did not seek congressional authorization for this military action, and we cannot allow this moment to turn into an endless war.”

“Congress must receive an immediate briefing and full oversight,” Wilson added.

“The VENEZUELAN PEOPLE should ‘run Venezuela’: not Trump, not Maduro’s cronies Delcy and Diasdado. We should be backing the legitimate democratic leaders, Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar celebrated the capture of Maduro, resharing the photo of the captured president of Venezuela.

“What an incredible picture: Maduro trembling in a sweatsuit aboard one of America’s greatest warships, a symbol of what American might can do when we have the courage to act!” Rep. Salazar said.

“Thank you, @POTUS, @SecRubio, @SecWar, and the brave members of our military who led the operation that successfully CAPTURED narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro,” Scott said in an X post. “A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America. The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President Trump’s leadership. God bless America and God bless the people of Venezuela!”

Scott followed up on the matter four hours later with this post:

Also reacting on X, Sen. Ashley Moody said Venezuelans have “anxiously awaited this day.”