President Donald Trump’s announcement of a daring U.S. military operation in Caracas has sent shockwaves through political circles.
Over the weekend, Trump revealed the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a military mission in Venezuela’s capital, while on Tuesday, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) appeared on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the operation, declining to call it illegal despite criticism from progressive Democrats and facing a formal censure from the Department of War.
The issue has sparked intense debate across party lines, with many questioning the legality and long-term consequences of such a bold move, as the New York Post reports.
Progressive Democrats have quickly condemned the operation as unauthorized and even suggested it could be grounds for impeachment.
Meanwhile, Sen. Kelly, who previously joined five other Democratic lawmakers in a viral video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders, took a more cautious stance during his CNN appearance.
Kelly clarified his earlier remarks, saying, “So, what we were talking about in the video is about a service member being given a specific order and having to make a decision about whether this is lawful or not,” during his CNN interview.
His attempt to separate individual orders from broader constitutional questions about presidential authority feels like a tightrope walk—admirable in theory, but slippery in practice.
While Kelly acknowledges Maduro’s removal as a net positive, he didn’t shy away from critiquing the apparent lack of a follow-up strategy.
Kelly pointed out, “Now, Maduro is a bad guy, and it’s good that he’s gone. It seems like this president, because he had no plan beyond removing Maduro, has now installed Maduro’s No. 2 person in Delcy Rodriguez.”
He likened the situation to a naval “fleeting up,” where the second-in-command takes over, suggesting that without a clear plan, the U.S. may have swapped one problem for another.
Isn’t it ironic that a mission to uproot a dictator might just reshuffle the same deck of cards?
On Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a formal censure letter for Kelly.
He called the lawmakers’ video “reckless and seditious” and said it was aimed at undermining military discipline.
Hegseth also directed Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to review Kelly’s retirement rank and pay status as a retired Navy captain, with a recommendation due in 45 days, arguing that Kelly remains subject to military justice.
This move raises eyebrows—holding a senator accountable under military rules feels like a sharp reminder that past service comes with present strings.
