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◆ Mixed look for SchumerForeign PolicyCongress / MembersEconomy

The Latest: Trump officials give nearly two-hour briefing to top lawmakers on Venezuela

Schumer said the briefing left major questions unanswered and warned that U.S. involvement could lead to another round of endless wars.

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Host credibilityThe Northern Virginia DailyNOT RATED
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026

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Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.

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347 stories · 94.5–95.2 · updated Oct 12, 2026

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The Northern Virginia Dailyvia Associated Press
Jan 6, 2026
tl;dr

Trump administration officials briefed congressional leaders on Venezuela, but lawmakers differed over what the administration plans next. Mike Johnson said he did not expect U.S. troops to be deployed, while Chuck Schumer said the briefing left more questions than answers.

Community verdict

32 VOTES
How does this story look for
Chuck Schumer D · NY · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 13

● OPEN
Votes cast on this page

Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

SWIPE →
Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Democratic leader criticizing the briefing and warning about further U.S. involvement

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration carried out the Venezuela operation and is considering next steps

Trump's version of this story ↗
Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House responding to the Venezuela briefing

Johnson's version of this story ↗
Chuck Grassley
R · IA · SEN

Senator seeking Senate Judiciary Committee access to the Maduro briefing

Mark R. Warner
D · VA · SEN

Senator who shared concerns about the briefing’s lack of clarity

House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member criticizing the briefing’s lack of clarity

Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense who participated in the briefing and described the Venezuela raid

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader discussing the briefing and notification about the operation

Richard J. Durbin
D · IL · SEN

Senator seeking Senate Judiciary Committee access to the Maduro briefing

House minority leader who called for a briefing after the operation

Brian J. Mast
R · FL-21

House Foreign Affairs Committee chair describing the administration’s plan for Venezuela’s interim leadership

Jeanne Shaheen
D · NH · SEN

Senator who said the briefing left questions unanswered

Mike Waltz
R · United States Ambassador to the United Nations

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations defending the Venezuela operation

Marco Rubio
Secretary of State

Secretary of State who led the briefing for lawmakers

Rand Paul
R · KY · SEN

Senator criticizing the legality and precedent of the Venezuela operation

ALSO MENTIONED  Nicolás Maduro, Deposed Venezuelan leader appearing in U.S. court after his capture; Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general warning about the operation’s legal implications; Christina Markus Lassen, Danish ambassador to the United Nations criticizing threats to Greenland and Venezuela’s sovereignty; Cilia Flores, Maduro’s wife and a defendant in the U.S. case; Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico opposing U.S. intervention in Venezuela; Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim president after Maduro’s capture; Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Panama’s ambassador to the United Nations commenting on the operation; Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia rejecting Trump’s accusations and warning against U.S. strikes; Jens Frederik Nielsen, Greenlandic leader who joined Frederiksen in opposing Trump’s comments; Kash Patel, FBI director describing the bureau’s continuing mission related to Venezuela; Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom calling for a peaceful transition in Venezuela; Leonor Zalabata, Colombian ambassador to the United Nations criticizing the raid; Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark criticizing the prospect of a U.S. takeover of Greenland; Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Venezuelan congressman and Maduro’s son; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey commenting on the Venezuela operation; Stephen Miller, Trump adviser commenting on whether María Corina Machado could lead Venezuela; Vasily Nebenzya, Russian ambassador to the United Nations criticizing the U.S. operation; Alvin K. Hellerstein, U.S. district judge presiding over Maduro’s case; Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary discussing the operation’s potential effects on oil markets

Part of a bigger story

12 OUTLETS
Schumer Calls for Oversight After U.S. Operation in Venezuela

After a U.S. operation captured Nicolás Maduro, Schumer criticized it and called for congressional oversight and answers about the administration’s plans. Left-leaning outlets portray Schumer’s response as too cautious and urge him to use more leverage to oppose the military action. Center outlets emphasize authorization, oversight and unanswered questions about the operation’s plans and potential U.S. involvement, while some also highlight Schumer’s past position on Maduro. Right-leaning outlets split between reporting legal and planning disputes and portraying Schumer’s criticism as inconsistent or unreasonable.

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