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’s recent announcement of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture has sparked significant controversy, particularly among the America First movement. The military operation, conducted without Congressional approval, has been met with fierce criticism. Clint Russell of Liberty Lockdown succinctly voiced the discontent, expressing, “The US is now bombing Caracas, Venezuela. Not. What. I. Voted. For.” This backlash highlights a perceived betrayal of the America First agenda, with many viewing the action as a constitutional overreach aimed at safeguarding financial interests.

The Constitutional Betrayal Foretold

In a reminder of the legislative branch’s authority, Rep. Thomas Massie, during his December 17th speech, emphasized that the power to declare war is a fundamental right reserved for Congress, not the president. Citing James Madison, Massie stated, “in no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war and peace to the legislature and not the executive.” This underscores the ongoing debate over the separation of powers in wartime decisions.

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 declared rationale for the military intervention—combatting drug trafficking—has been scrutinized. The 25-page indictment from Attorney General Pam Bondi, notably absent of references to “fentanyl” or “stolen oil,” focuses instead on cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism. This omission raises questions about the official narrative. Critics, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, argue that the real drug crisis in the U.S. involves fentanyl from Mexican cartels, not Venezuelan cocaine.

The underlying motive for the intervention appears rooted in Venezuela’s economic policies. The nation’s decision to sell oil in Chinese yuan and its application to join BRICS challenge the existing U.S. petrodollar system. Analyst Ricardo has pointed out that this move threatens the 1974 deal with Saudi Arabia that underpins the global financial order by mandating oil sales in U.S. dollars. This situation mirrors past instances where countries like Iraq and Libya faced military action after opposing dollar dominance.

Historically, such interventions have led to regime changes and the establishment of central banks aligned with global financial systems. Venezuela now seems poised to follow this pattern, with the new administration likely to set up a central bank. The military action, therefore, appears less about narco-terrorism and more about maintaining financial hegemony.

The operation in Venezuela stands as a stark example of the foreign entanglements the America First movement aims to avoid. Glenn Greenwald observed that Donald Trump consistently campaigned against regime change wars, yet the current administration’s actions run counter to this stance. Clint Russell’s reaction, capturing the sentiment of many Trump supporters, underscores the feeling of betrayal. The decision to proceed with the raid reflects a dismissal of voter priorities, contradicting promises 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.