Mac Deford, Democratic candidate for Congress in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, issued the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's military action against Venezuela:
“Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an oppressive dictator who has brought tremendous suffering to the Venezuelan people. His corruption, repression, and abuse of human rights are undeniable. But acknowledging that reality does not grant the President of the United States legal authority to violate Venezuela’s sovereignty or to pursue regime change without Congress.
“The President has no legal justification under U.S. law or international law to launch military action or force regime change without congressional authorization. Ignoring Congress is not decisive leadership. It is unlawful, dangerous, and destabilizing for our country and our standing in the world.”
“The United States has long sought the moral high ground in holding nations like Russia and China accountable when they engage in aggressive, illegal actions against sovereign countries. When an American president takes actions that undermine international law and norms, including toward Venezuela, we weaken our credibility and our ability to lead. Upholding the rule of law abroad requires respecting it ourselves.
“This is not about drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment does not even identify Venezuela as a primary drug threat to the United States, nor does it list Tren de Aragua as a major drug trafficking organization targeting our country. In fact, Tren de Aragua primarily engages in human trafficking and kidnapping. The pretext for the Trump administration’s attack is built on a false narrative.
“We have men and women here in the Lowcountry who wear the uniform of the United States and who are called to serve in the Caribbean region. They deserve more than a Congress acting as a passive rubber stamp. Congress must demand that this administration justify its actions under the Constitution and international law, explain how this operation serves the national interest, and account for the consequences that follow. Until that happens, this intervention lacks legitimacy and accountability.”