'What will we say now if Putin tries to capture Zelenskyy': Indian-origin Ro Khanna says Trump's strike on Venezuela is a 'war of choice'

Indian-origin Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna condemned President Donald Trump's military strike on Venezuela and said Trump bowed to a foreign policy blob committed to militarism. "What will we say now if Xi Jinping wants to capture Lai of Taiwan or Putin tries to capture Zelensky in Ukraine?" Khanna said, adding that Trump betrayed his MAGA base by launching a war of choice.

"The times call for a movement of the American people to stand against bloated defense budgets and warmongering. We need statesmen who will heed the advice of Washington and our founders and invest in jobs, healthcare, childcare & education for our people," the Democratic Congressman said.


Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown to the US to face the US law enforcement. Vice President JD Vance defended the operation on foreign soil and said Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism.

"You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas," Vance said adding that Maduro was offered multiple off-ramps.

"The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation," Vance said.

What happened in Venezuela?

• Trump ordered a military strike in Venezuela. The president said no American soldiers were injured in the strike and no civilian area was attacked in Venezuela.
• US military captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from a highly guarded fortress and flew him and his wife to the US.
• The attack lasted less than 30 minutes and at least seven blasts were reported. Some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed, Venezuela vice president claimed.
• Maduro will now face charges in the US. Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges.
• Trump said the US will now decide what happens to Venezuela now. “We can’t take a chance in letting somebody else run and just take over what he left, or left off,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News hours after the capture.