GOP Makes New Venezuela Demands
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Sunday that any new government in Venezuela will be expected to comply with strict U.S. conditions following the capture of longtime Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union with anchor Dana Bash, Cotton explained that President Trump’s comments about U.S. oversight during a transition period were focused on restoring order and protecting American interests.
According to Cotton, Washington’s expectations remain unchanged.
“The priority is stopping drug trafficking, halting weapons smuggling, and ending Venezuela’s role as a base for hostile foreign actors,” he said. “Those are non-negotiable requirements for reentering the international community.”
Cotton also emphasized the need to remove foreign influence from the country, including Cuban security forces, Iranian operatives, and extremist elements that have operated inside Venezuela for years. He said these steps are necessary to stabilize the region and reduce threats closer to U.S. borders.
On Saturday, Donald Trump confirmed that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s transition following Maduro’s capture, stressing that the goal is a limited, carefully managed process.
“We’re not looking for permanent involvement,” Trump said at a press conference. “This is about a safe, responsible transition that prevents Venezuela from falling back into chaos.”
Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the operation. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) accused the administration of misleading Congress, directing criticism at Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over previous statements about U.S. intentions.
Kim made the comments in a social media post, arguing that the administration had downplayed the scope of the operation.
Republicans, meanwhile, largely expressed support, saying decisive leadership was necessary after years of instability in Venezuela. GOP lawmakers argue that restoring order could weaken drug cartels, reduce illegal migration pressures, and limit the influence of adversarial regimes in the Western Hemisphere.
