Preston Condemns Trump’s Venezuela Actions, Warns of Constitutional Overreach (Chicago, IL) – Second Congressional District candidate Willie Preston on Saturday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric regarding Venezuela, calling it a dangerous and unconstitutional precedent that could entangle the United States in an open-ended foreign intervention.
In a statement released by his campaign, Preston said while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is “a brutal dictator” and no ally of the United States, the U.S. Constitution does not permit a president to unilaterally declare war, seize the leader of a sovereign nation, or assume control of another country without congressional authorization.
Preston argued that the administration’s approach undermines both American law and international norms. He said the actions appear driven by economic interests, particularly Venezuela’s oil resources, rather than national security or efforts to curb drug trafficking.
“Nicolás Maduro is a brutal dictator, not a friend to the United States, a man who has oppressed his people and unleashed dangerous criminals into our country.
But the U.S. Constitution does not give ANY president the power to unilaterally declare war or capture the leader of a sovereign nation – or TAKE over a sovereign nation outright – without the approval of Congress.
This is about oil – not drugs or America’s safety: The president just said so with his remarkable claim that the United States would be on the hook for rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure along with running the country – even while we make massive disinvestments in the infrastructure of our own country.
This is a dangerous precedent that undermines global norms and betrays American values with no plan, no approval and no end in sight.
America must be strong but our strength does not come from lawnlessness, Our safety can only be secured by upholding our Constitution, not abandoning it.”
Pointing to Trump’s remarks suggesting the United States would be responsible for rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and helping to run the country. Preston contrasted that with what he described as ongoing disinvestment in infrastructure at home.
He warned that such an approach risks committing the nation to an undefined and potentially endless foreign engagement without a clear strategy or democratic oversight.
Preston Condemns Trump’s Venezuela Actions, Warns of Constitutional Overreach
