The Trump administration recently launched a military strike on Caracas, Venezuela, to capture President Nicolás Maduro, an action that has sparked immediate international and domestic debate.

The White House is currently celebrating the successful capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, but the operation has stirred significant controversy due to its execution without congressional approval. This decision has sparked immediate backlash, particularly from the America First movement. Prominent voices like Clint Russell from Liberty Lockdown have voiced their discontent, emphasizing the sentiment of betrayal with comments such as, “The US is now bombing Caracas, Venezuela. Not. What. I. Voted. For.” This military intervention is seen as a significant departure from the America First agenda, challenging constitutional norms to allegedly preserve the financial status quo.

The Constitutional Betrayal Foretold

In a speech delivered on December 17, Representative Thomas Massie highlighted the constitutional responsibility of Congress to declare war. He referenced James Madison, underscoring the wisdom found in the Constitution that entrusts decisions of war and peace to the legislature, not the executive branch. Massie’s comments serve as a reminder of the constitutional processes that were bypassed in this situation.

Furthermore, Glenn Greenwald reinforced this point, noting that the administration allowed no public debate or discussion in Congress, which the Constitution requires to authorize new wars. Therefore, the subsequent raid, launched without a congressional vote, constitutes a direct and willful violation of the very principle Massie championed on the House floor.

The administration’s official stance is that the military action is part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking. However, this justification is met with skepticism, with critics alleging the true motive is to protect the U.S. petrodollar system. The 25-page indictment released by Attorney General Pam Bondi does not mention fentanyl or stolen oil, which were publicly cited as reasons for the intervention. Instead, it focuses on charges of cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene pointed out that fentanyl, a major cause of overdose deaths in the U.S., predominantly comes from Mexican cartels, yet the administration has chosen to target Venezuela.

The underlying motive for the military action appears to be Venezuela’s challenge to the petrodollar. Analyst Ricardo explained that the American financial system is heavily reliant on a 1974 agreement with Saudi Arabia mandating oil sales in U.S. dollars. Venezuela’s decision to sell oil in Chinese yuan and its efforts to join BRICS posed a direct threat to this financial structure.

This scenario echoes historical precedents where countries like Iraq and Libya faced military intervention after challenging dollar dominance. While Venezuela did not previously have a central bank, the new administration plans to establish one, further integrating it into the global financial system. Critics argue that the administration misled the public about the drug war rationale to support a foreign intervention driven by financial interests.

The military intervention in Venezuela exemplifies the type of foreign entanglements the America First movement aims to avoid. Journalist Glenn Greenwald pointed out that Donald Trump campaigned against regime change wars, yet Maduro is not seen as a direct threat to the United States. The reaction from Clint Russell, echoing the phrase “Not. What. I. Voted. For.,” captures the sense of betrayal felt by Trump supporters. By conducting the raid, the administration appears to disregard the preferences of its voters, abandoning the pledge to prioritize American lives.

“Previous presidents told us to go to war over… pic.twitter.com/XzwsC1uPpU

— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) January 3, 2026

The Fraudulent Pretext: A War for the Petrodollar

The administration’s official justification for the war—a crusade against drug trafficking—remains a transparent lie to conceal the true motive: preserving the U.S. petrodollar system. Interestingly, the 25-page indictment released by Attorney General Pam Bondi makes no mention of “fentanyl” or “stolen oil,” the two primary public justifications for the military action. Instead, the charges focus exclusively on cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism, exposing the administration’s public reasoning as a fabrication. As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated, fentanyl causes over 70% of U.S. drug overdose deaths and comes from Mexican cartels, yet the administration targets Venezuela instead.

The real reason for the invasion lies in Venezuela’s challenge to the petrodollar. As analyst Ricardo explained, the entire American financial system rests on a 1974 deal with Saudi Arabia that requires all oil sales in U.S. dollars. Venezuela, possessing the world’s largest oil reserves, began selling its oil in Chinese yuan and petitioned to join BRICS, directly threatening this financial order.

This follows a clear historical pattern where nations like Iraq and Libya faced invasion after challenging the dollar’s hegemony. Notably, Venezuela did not have a central bank, but the new administration will establish one now, further integrating the nation into the global financial system. Thus, the administration lied to the American people, using a phony drug war to justify a foreign intervention that serves financial interests.

The Betrayal of America First: ‘Not What I Voted For’

Furthermore, the Venezuela intervention provides a textbook example of the nation-building and foreign entanglements that the America First movement seeks to stop. Glenn Greenwald noted that Donald Trump ran on a platform of opposing regime change wars in three separate elections, yet Maduro poses no threat to the United States. Clint Russell’s visceral reaction—”Not. What. I. Voted. For.”—perfectly encapsulates the feeling of betrayal among Trump’s own supporters. By proceeding with the raid, the administration demonstrates a complete disregard for the will of its voters and abandons the promise to put American lives first.

A Deliberate Defiance of the Constitution

The unconstitutional war in Venezuela represents a calculated act of defiance against the Constitution and the principled warnings of America First conservatives. As Greenwald warned, the public must not get caught up in the “climate of intoxication and war propaganda” surrounding the capture of a “bad guy,” as these actions consistently lead to instability and violence.

Therefore, Americans must stand with Rep. Thomas Massie and demand that their representatives support the War Powers resolution. The voice of the people must prevail, and the Constitution must withstand the actions of a rogue executive branch committed to endless wars for financial interests.