U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, says the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela. He told Missourinet that there is no legitimate reason for President Trump’s opponents in Congress to try and invoke the War Powers Act.
“We executed essentially a warrant with the FBI, with the protection of the U.S. military,” Schmitt said. “That’s what this was.”
U.S. Senate Democrats are sponsoring a resolution to invoke the War Powers Act and force withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Venezuela. It follows Saturday’s military action in which Delta Force members captured Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro and removed him from the country.
Schmitt also told Missourinet that Democrats oppose the action solely because it was ordered by Trump, accusing them of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“I wish that for like maybe a day we could celebrate as Americans the fact that a brutal dictator who poisoned Americans (with illegal drugs), sent criminals here, and wanted China in our backyard is gone,” he said. “And that shouldn’t be a partisan affair.”
Democrats, including Missouri Congressmen Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver, say it was illegal for Trump to order the military to capture Maduro without congressional approval.
Meanwhile, Schmitt said that Cuba and Nicaragua should be worried.
“Yeah, I think this sends a very important message that you have a president that means what he says,” said Schmitt. “I mean, look, Joe Biden had a $25 million reward for Maduro, right? But these are just like things that they talked about and put on paper, but nobody ever did anything about it.”
Schmitt also said China should take notice of what the U.S. military did in Venezuela.
“(China) had a delegation in Venezuela at the time and had no idea this was happening,” he told Missourinet.
Schmitt added that Maduro’s government is still in power, just without him, though President Trump maintains that the U.S. is in charge of Venezuela.
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