Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) said Sunday that President Trump told him that he plans to brief members of Congress on possible military action in Latin America, including potentially shifting attacks targeting Venezuela from the sea to land.
Graham, speaking to Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ Face the Nation, said land strikes “a real possibility” and that the president will brief lawmakers on the possible operations in the region when he returns from Asia later this week.
“There will be a congressional briefing about a potential expanding from the sea to the land. I support that idea, but I think [Trump] has all the authority he needs,” Graham added.
Starting in early September, the president has authorized multiple strikes in the Carribean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing at least 43 people.
The administration has alleged, without providing public evidence, that the vessels attacked were smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told ABC News Sunday that the administration presented evidence that there were drugs on the boats, but not fentanyl.
Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deployed an aircraft carrier and its strike group to South America last week. The moves have escalated tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro.
When asked whether the administration’s actions toward Venezuela serve are tantamount to regime change, Graham said that “I hope Maduro would leave peacefully, but I don’t think he’s going to stay around much longer.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House and Pentagon for confirmation of the impending briefing.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in response to the strikes, has accused the U.S. of murder. Trump then cut security aid to Colombia and sanctioned Petro personally.
The moves have also garnered criticism from Democrats in Congress and select Republicans. According to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the ability to declare war, but numerous presidents in recent memory have authorized military strikes abroad before informing the legislative branch.
Earlier this month, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) re-introduced a resolution to block the strikes. A prior measure was voted down by the Senate, 51-48, the week prior, with Paul and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski the lone Republicans in favor and Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman the lone Democrat against.
