President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after talking to troops through video from his Mar-a-Lago property on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Palm Seashore, Fla.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
The Venezuelan authorities has condemned President Trump’s assertion on Saturday calling for the airspace above Venezuela to be closed.
In a Fact Social publish, Trump stated “To all Airways, Pilots, Drug Sellers, and Human Traffickers, please contemplate THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
The Venezuelan authorities responded with an announcement saying Trump’s feedback violate worldwide legislation and are a “colonialist menace” to the nation’s sovereignty.
“No authority exterior the Venezuelan institutional framework has the facility to intrude with, block, or situation the usage of worldwide airspace,” the assertion stated.
As of Sunday afternoon, Flightradar24 reveals planes persevering with to fly in Venezuelan airspace.
This comes a day after the Senate and Home Armed Companies committees stated they might look into the Pentagon after The Washington Put up reported that Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to kill all crew members aboard a ship suspected of smuggling medicine within the Caribbean in September. NPR has confirmed the Washington Put up’s reporting.
The navy has carried out at the very least 21 strikes and killed at the very least 82 individuals on alleged drug boats as a part of “Operation Southern Spear,” a marketing campaign that the Trump administration says is aimed toward tackling drug-trafficking.
Venezuela stated in its assertion that “such statements signify an express use of drive, which is prohibited by Article 2, paragraph 4 of the U.N. Constitution of the United Nations.”
Democrats have additionally strongly criticized the administration’s technique, saying the navy did not have sufficient proof that the boats have been carrying medicine earlier than conducting the strikes. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, informed ABC’S This Week on Sunday it is potential the navy’s actions could possibly be thought of a “conflict crime,” and that Hegseth must be held accountable.
“They’ve by no means introduced the general public with the knowledge they have right here,” Van Hollen stated, “But it surely could possibly be worse than that, proper? If that principle is unsuitable, then it is plain homicide.”
Nevertheless, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the Armed Companies Committee, stated on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox Information that Trump is appearing “properly inside his Article 2 powers” in terms of curbing drug smuggling by placing the boats.
“I believe it is a two half technique,” Schmitt stated. “One is to eliminate the precursors which might be coming from China, after which take out the cartels which might be distributing this and bringing it to the US of America.”
Each Democrats and Republicans in Congress have expressed frustration at Trump’s stance on Venezuela, and that the Trump administration performed the strikes with out legislative approval.
“Trump’s reckless actions in the direction of Venezuela are pushing America nearer and nearer to a different pricey international conflict,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer posted on X on Saturday, hours after Trump’s publish about Venezuelan airspace.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Trump ally, additionally posted on Saturday, saying “Reminder, Congress has the only real energy to declare conflict.”
