1:39Donald Trump conducts a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Key congressional figures — known as the "Gang of 8" — were not briefed by the administration prior to the commencement of the U.S. strike in Venezuela, multiple sources informed ABC News on Saturday morning.
According to one source, the Department of Defense alerted congressional staff only after the operation had begun.
A few weeks prior, President Donald Trump had suggested he would not inform lawmakers ahead of any land operations in Venezuela due to concerns about potential “leaks.”
In this July 13, 2025, file photo, President Donald Trump observes during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions in East Rutherford, New Jersey. | In this Sept. 14, 2022, file photo, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro participating in a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.Angela Weiss, Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
Initial congressional responses were mostly divided along party lines.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was busy making calls Saturday morning to rally support among Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Notably, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee initially expressed criticism regarding the action taken without congressional authorization.
"I am eager to understand what, if anything, could constitutionally support this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for military force," Lee posted on X.
However, later on, Lee updated his post, indicating he had spoken with Rubio and felt reassured about the administration’s authority to act.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the media during an end-of-year press conference in the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, December 19, 2025.Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
"I just got off the phone with @SecRubio. He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been apprehended by U.S. personnel to face criminal charges in the United States, and that the military action we witnessed tonight was executed to safeguard those carrying out the arrest warrant. This action probably falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack. Thank you, @SecRubio, for keeping me informed," Lee stated.
He also mentioned that Rubio indicated he expects "no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody."
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, echoed Lee’s sentiments after confirming he had also spoken with Rubio.
"Nicolas Maduro was not only an illegitimate dictator; he also operated a significant drug-trafficking enterprise. That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism," Cotton posted on X. "I just spoke with @SecRubio, who verified that Maduro is now in U.S. custody and will be held accountable for his offenses against our citizens. I commend President Trump and our courageous troops and law enforcement for this remarkable operation."
Later, in an interview with Fox News, Cotton remarked, "Congress does not need to be informed every time the executive branch is making an arrest. And that’s precisely what transpired this morning in Venezuela, and now Maduro is set to come to the United States to face justice."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com