Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday for ordering the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, calling the operation “unlawful and unwise,” remarks that quickly sparked widespread backlash on social media.
Harris issued her criticism in a lengthy post on X as news continued to emerge about the U.S. military and law enforcement operation that resulted in Maduro’s arrest and transfer to the United States to face federal charges.
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris wrote.
She accused President Trump of misleading the American public and claimed the operation carried significant risks and costs without clear justification.
That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise,” Harris said.
“We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price.”
Harris further argued that Americans oppose such actions and suggested the President’s motives were tied to energy interests rather than security or democratic principles.
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“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to,” she wrote.
“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.”
In her statement, Harris also accused Trump of undermining opposition figures in Venezuela and acting without proper legal authority.
“If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies,” she wrote.
She concluded by warning that the operation could have long-term consequences.
“The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home,” Harris said.
“America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first.”
Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.
That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise. We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that…
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 4, 2026
Harris’s remarks contrasted sharply with the outcome of the operation itself.
Maduro was captured during an overnight operation in Venezuela without any reported U.S. military casualties. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have charged Maduro with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
President Trump later posted video footage of the strikes that preceded the arrest, which targeted at least four sites around Caracas.
I was 🤏 this close to black-pilling after Mamdani was invited to the White House…
Then, the day after his NYC inauguration, Trump drops Fortunate Son over video of us bombing the F* out of Communists.
Absolute masterclass.
— John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) January 3, 2026
The White House said the operation was conducted with precision and without the loss of American life.
Maduro arrived in New York Saturday evening and is now being held in federal custody. His first court appearance is expected as soon as Monday in New York City.
Harris’s criticism drew immediate and intense reaction on X, where users challenged her statements and pointed to past positions taken by the Biden-Harris administration.
Several commenters noted that during the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. government maintained a $25 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, a point highlighted publicly by Article III Project Senior Counsel Will Chamberlain.
The Biden-Harris administration made available a $25,000,000 reward for information that would have lead to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.
Now you’re saying capturing him was unlawful? Did you just entirely forget your administration’s policy? pic.twitter.com/fbXSDzPZ68
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) January 4, 2026
Others questioned Harris’s assertion that the operation lacked legal authority, citing the long-standing indictments against Maduro and U.S. efforts over multiple administrations to hold him accountable for alleged drug trafficking and related offenses.
Harris’s post also revived comparisons to earlier statements made by Joe Biden.
During the 2020 campaign, Biden criticized Trump by saying he “admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro.”
Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro.
As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy. https://t.co/eUt28UxyXS
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 22, 2020
Critics online contrasted that statement with the Biden-Harris administration’s record in office, during which Maduro remained in power and no comparable action was taken to remove him.
Kamala Harris’ actions at the border never made America safer, stronger, or more affordable. pic.twitter.com/bocRkkOD8n
— Corbin Williams (@corbinwilliams) January 4, 2026
