Venezuela live updates as U.S. seizes tankers, Rubio says U.S. will control money from oil sales

Ahead of a Senate briefing on the operation to capture Maduro, Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday questioned the Trump administration’s Venezuela strategy and pressed for more details, while most Republicans praised the operation.

Some Democratic senators have indicated they plan to push for a vote on war powers as early as this week to block further military action in Venezuela. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a long-time skeptic of military interventions, is expected to join them. The House and Senate held similar votes in recent months, but all failed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, was unimpressed by an earlier briefing with congressional leaders on Monday, telling reporters that administration officials “have no idea what steps 2 through 10 will be.”

Other Democrats questioned the legality of the operation and criticized Mr. Trump’s focus on Venezuelan oil or his suggestion that he would “run” Venezuela.

“If Donald Trump wants to lead a country, he should think about leading the United States of America,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

Republicans largely supported the president, arguing that the military operation was legal and justified. Most also expressed confidence in Mr. Trump’s strategy.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told reporters that he was confident there was a plan for how the United States would operate in Venezuela, but that “the next few days are going to be crucial” in assessing the “government structure” and “the extent to which they are willing to work with the United States.”

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said, “We are in charge of Venezuela.”

“For those who say we’re going to show up and occupy Venezuela, that’s not the case,” Graham added. “We will rebuild the country – we are managing it for now.”