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Iowa Republicans praise Trump’s seizure of Maduro as Democrats warn of unconstitutional war
Venezuela raid sparks Iowa political debate over war powers and regime change
Jan. 5, 2026 7:51 pm, Updated: Jan. 6, 2026 6:21 pm
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Iowa’s Republican congressional delegation rallied behind President Donald Trump following a surprise U.S. military operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while Democrats and several 2026 Senate candidates warned the action could draw the United States into an unconstitutional war without congressional approval.
The operation, which the Trump administration described as a law-enforcement action tied to long-standing drug-trafficking indictments, has sparked sharp divisions in Iowa over executive power, military force and U.S. involvement in regime change abroad.
As the administration prepares additional briefings on Capitol Hill, the operation has intensified debate in Iowa over presidential war powers, congressional oversight and the future of U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
Maduro, appearing in court in Manhattan, protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges.
Grassley presses administration over briefing exclusion
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., in criticizing the Trump administration for excluding the committee from a Capitol Hill briefing on Maduro’s arrest.
“President Trump and Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio have stated that this was a law enforcement operation that was made at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),” the pair said in a joint statement released Monday. “The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over DOJ, FBI and DEA, and all three agencies are led by individuals who our Committee vetted and processed. … There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing.”
Grassley, however, strongly endorsed the operation itself, calling Maduro “a fugitive of American justice … responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans” for his alleged role in trafficking deadly drugs to the United States, and praising Trump’s decision to act.
“This action is not without precedent,” Grassley said, comparing the raid to President George H.W. Bush’s 1989 deployment of U.S. forces to capture Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega following his indictment for drug trafficking.
Iowa Republicans applaud operation
Republican members of Iowa’s U.S. House delegation also praised the operation and credited Trump for confronting international drug trafficking.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, called Maduro’s capture “a pivotal victory in the fight against international narco-terrorism,” citing the regime’s role in fentanyl trafficking and praising U.S. troops and law enforcement.
Calling Maduro an “illegitimate dictator, who masqueraded as a leader while enabling deadly drug cartels,” Miller-Meeks accused his regime of “flooding our communities with fentanyl [that] has devastated families across Iowa and the nation, claiming far too many American lives.”
“At long last, this brings some justice for the families torn apart by the fentanyl crisis and removes a grave threat to American security,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, wrote on social media that Trump “doesn’t just talk, he takes action & follows through — as Maduro now knows.
“It’s long past time for Maduro to be held accountable for drug trafficking & narcoterrorism — which he was indicted for in a U.S. court in 2020.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, applauded the mission but cautioned that U.S. involvement should remain limited.
“Moving forward, we must ensure this mission remains focused, time-bound, and squarely aligned with U.S. national interests,” Nunn said on social media.
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, on Monday applauded Trump for ordering the U.S. military operation that captured Maduro, framing the surprise raid as a necessary step to combat the flow of deadly drugs into the United States.
“I applaud Trump for what he did. I mean, we have to look at what Maduro has done over the last several decades,” Feenstra told The Gazette. “ … I mean, I know people that have died from drugs, right? So we're trying to stop that, and this is a way that we can end this from happening, and make sure that we can open up Venezuela for what it is and what it was decades ago.”
Asked whether the administration had legal authority to carry out the military seizure and regime‑change mission without congressional approval, Feenstra sidestepped the constitutional question and instead praised the outcome — linking the surprise U.S. military raid directly to the American drug crisis and defending the operation as a necessary act of self-defense.
Feenstra said lawmakers will be briefed on “next steps” in the coming days but did not detail what U.S. policy in Venezuela should look like after Maduro’s capture.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Trump “took decisive action” to hold Maduro accountable and “stand up for American lives.”
“I am grateful for the swift work and precision of our servicemembers and special forces in this operation,” Ernst posted on social media.
Gov. Kim Reynolds echoed that praise, saying the “decisive action” taken by Trump would help stem the flow of drugs into the United States, and “finally brings Maduro to face justice for his crimes and defends our national security.”
Democrats warn of unconstitutional war, regime change
Democrats and independent candidates sharply criticized the operation, warning it could entangle the U.S. in another prolonged conflict without congressional authorization.
State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, a candidate for U.S. Senate, accused Trump of forcing regime change without a clear plan and prioritizing foreign intervention over domestic economic struggles.
State Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, also running for Senate, said Iowans are “tired of never-ending wars” and warned against military action not approved by Congress.
Army and Marine Corps veteran Nathan Sage, another Democratic Senate candidate, called the operation “illegal” and said the American people are “fed up with endless wars.”
Muscatine attorney and Democratic congressional candidate Taylor Wettach criticized Trump’s military action in Venezuela as reckless and unlawful, arguing it risks American lives, wastes billions in taxpayer money and bypasses Congress and the will of the public. Wettach said the move serves as a distraction from rising costs and other unresolved issues at home. He added that Trump’s pardon of a former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking undercuts any claim the action is about drugs, contending the conflict primarily benefits wealthy interests seeking access to oil. He called on Congress to assert its constitutional authority.
Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart said the administration’s statements suggested the United States intends to take over and run Venezuela, arguing that Congress must act as a check on long-term military involvement.
Independent congressional candidate Dave Bushaw of Fayette County also condemned the operation as an illegal invasion driven by resource interests, saying it puts American service members at risk without constitutional authorization.
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
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