Rubio, Hegseth share classified details as Trump’s secret strikes off South America ignite Capitol storm

Trump officials brief Congress on secret strikes in South America; Democrats question legality, warn of mission creep toward Venezuela.

Top officials from the Trump administration have briefed congressional leaders on the expanding military campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in South American waters, but the secretive operation has triggered deep divisions on Capitol Hill.

According to Associated Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met a select group of bipartisan lawmakers on Wednesday, offering what participants described as the most detailed look yet at the legal rationale and strategic intent behind the strikes.

The classified session, held inside a secure Capitol facility, came as pressure mounted on the White House to justify attacks that critics say blur the line between counter-narcotics enforcement and acts of war.

Growing backlash over ‘vigilante’ strikes at sea

Since the campaign began two months ago, US forces have conducted at least 16 known strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 66 people suspected of drug trafficking.

Republican lawmakers largely backed the operation, calling it a bold step to protect US security interests. According to the Associated Press report, Democrats questioned the administration’s unilateral approach, and warned that declaring drug cartels as “unlawful combatants” could set a dangerous precedent.

“What we heard isn’t enough,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, demanding an all-senators briefing. “We need a lot more answers.”

The briefing came just a day before the Senate is set to vote on a resolution requiring congressional approval for any strikes directly on Venezuela, a country the US has accused of narcoterrorism under President Nicolás Maduro.

‘Good legal justification,’ says GOP; Democrats see gaps

Republican Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emerged satisfied.

“They’ve got good legal justification,” Risch said. “The president ought to be congratulated for saving American lives.”

But Democrats were unconvinced.

“They made statements and explanations. I still believe the acts are illegal,” said Gregory Meeks, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, acknowledged the need for tougher action against Maduro’s regime, but warned it was a “huge mistake” to launch lethal strikes “without actually demonstrating that these boats are carrying drugs.”

Jim Himes, the lead Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, added that the intelligence used to justify the strikes “could easily lead to mistakes,” noting uncertainty over whether civilian lives were at risk.

Inside the secret legal opinion

According to the Associated Press report, lawmakers also reviewed a 40-page classified opinion from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) that outlines the administration’s justification for the campaign.

According to Senator Tim Kaine, the document lays out an elaborate legal rationale for striking vessels in international waters, but, notably, makes no mention of Venezuela.

“There is nothing in there about the rationale for Venezuela strikes,” Kaine said. “It’s a very elaborate argument for why you can strike a boat, but it contains logical fallacies.”

Democrats say the omission reinforces concerns that the administration may be using counter-narcotics as cover for regime change efforts in Caracas, something officials deny, AP adds.

Rising tensions off South America

Behind the scenes, the Pentagon is bolstering its naval presence in the region. Analysts say the buildup risks stoking fears of a potential invasion of Venezuela, even as the White House insists its focus is on targeting transnational drug networks.

The Trump administration maintains that the campaign is saving American lives and cutting off cartel profits that fund violence across the hemisphere. But legal experts argue that bypassing Congress to conduct strikes amounts to an unauthorised use of force under US and international law.

“The administration has sidestepped Congress’ war powers,” said one Democratic aide. “Labeling traffickers as terrorists doesn’t give a blank check for targeted killings.”