Democratic Texas House Representative and outspoken Donald Trump critic, Jasmine Crockett, delivered a sharp rebuke of the president’s foreign policy regarding Venezuela during a January 6, 2026, appearance on ABC’s The View.
Her remarks drew audible applause from the studio audience as she said Americans would not tolerate similar international intervention if it targeted the United States, pointing out that many people in the U.S. dislike Trump just as many Venezuelans oppose President Nicolás Maduro, who is now in U.S. custody.
“This ain’t about Venezuelans”
Jasmine Crockett: “This ain’t about Venezuelans. I get that there are people that don’t like the leader, but guess what? There are a lot or people that don’t like our leader. Somebody coming into the US and grabbing our leader in the middle of the night and killing people, I’m… pic.twitter.com/JsVq0whbdR
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) January 6, 2026
“This ain’t about Venezuelans,” Crockett said, arguing that political opposition to a foreign leader does not justify unilateral intervention. She acknowledged that many Venezuelans oppose Maduro, then pivoted to the U.S. political climate, noting that “there are a lot of people that don’t like our leader.”
She continued with a hypothetical: “Somebody coming into the U.S. and grabbing our leader in the middle of the night and killing people, I’m sure everybody would be outraged.”
As Crockett’s remarks spread, comments included, “Exactly! It’s about OIL and that’s all. Starting with killing innocent fishmens to say they are drugs cartels what a helluva lie. I pray Everyone survives this nightmare.”
Another noted, “Exactly: If Russia grabs president of Ukraine & China grabs Taiwan … The USA can’t say,you can’t do that. Trump is setting a new world order where powerful countries like Russia, China and USA can just grab who they want without consequence, to benefit themselves.”
What happened in Venezuela?
China strongly condemned the US for redirecting Venezuelan oil exports to Washington and away from Beijing, after President Trump unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil stuck in the country under a US blockade https://t.co/1go5JtLnrN pic.twitter.com/nafPMO1vJ3
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 7, 2026
In early January 2026, the United States carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, striking multiple targets and capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
U.S. forces flew Maduro to the U.S. Since then, he appeared in federal court in New York on narcotics-and terrorism-related charges, pleading not guilty. The intervention, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved U.S. special operations forces and was justified by the Trump administration as necessary to combat narcotrafficking and restore democratic order.
In the aftermath, Trump asserted the U.S. would “run” Venezuela during a transition period and has moved to control Venezuelan oil exports, including the seizure of oil tankers and plans to sell crude on global markets, moves the administration says will benefit the Venezuelan people.
International reaction is sharply divided. Several Latin American governments and global powers, including Russia, China, and the European Union, have condemned the operation as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while others praised the removal of Maduro.
Inside Venezuela, authorities installed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president, as the country confronts deep uncertainty marked by reports of unrest, mourning for military casualties, and fears of broader instability.
