US House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Monday that the United States is “not at war” in Venezuela. His remarks came after a weekend raid ordered by former President Donald Trump to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump also announced that the US would now oversee the country’s affairs. The raid followed months of increasing US pressure on Venezuela. This pressure included partial blockades on oil shipments and airstrikes on vessels off Venezuela’s coast. These attacks have reportedly killed at least 110 people. Trump claimed that the newly sworn-in interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, would cooperate with US demands. These demands include allowing American oil companies to manage Venezuela’s large crude reserves. However, Democrats criticized the president for engaging the US in a conflict he campaigned against. They argued that Trump acted without prior approval from Congress. After a briefing with top administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Johnson told reporters that Trump had no plans to use military force in Venezuela. “We are not at war. We do not have US armed forces in Venezuela, and we are not occupying that country,” Johnson said. He also dismissed Democratic claims that Trump broke the law by not consulting Congress before the raid. Johnson emphasized that the operation is not a regime change. Instead, he described it as a demand for the Venezuelan government to change its behavior. “The interim government is now in place, and we hope they will correct their actions,” he said. The Trump administration has labeled Maduro’s government a “narco-terrorist” regime. It claims that Venezuela trafficked drugs, including fentanyl, into the US. Experts, however, have questioned these claims. The administration also alleged that Maduro allowed foreign powers like China and Russia, and armed groups such as Hezbollah, to operate in Venezuela, giving them influence in the Western Hemisphere. Johnson said the US strategy of limiting Venezuela’s oil production would pressure the socialist government to reform. He predicted it could lead to new elections. Analysts say Maduro’s 2024 election victory was reportedly stolen from the main opposition candidate. “We have a way of persuasion because their oil exports have been seized. This will bring the country to new governance quickly,” Johnson said. “We do not expect troops on the ground.” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the briefing. He said it raised more questions than it answered. Schumer warned that the US risks becoming involved in a new war. “Their plan for the US running Venezuela is vague and based on wishful thinking,” he said. Schumer added that he received no guarantees the US would not attempt similar actions in other countries. He cautioned that US-led regime change and nation-building operations often backfire. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested and face federal charges related to guns, drugs, and narco-terrorism. Maduro pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance in New York. An emergency UN Security Council meeting condemned the US incursion as a “crime of aggression.” Democratic senators plan to push a vote on a war powers resolution this week. It would require congressional approval for any further US military actions in Venezuela. It remains unclear if the measure will pass in the Republican-controlled chamber. Monday’s briefing was limited to the top Senate and House leaders and committee heads for intelligence, foreign policy, and armed forces. Johnson said top administration officials will return to brief all lawmakers on Wednesday. Congressional judiciary committees were not included in Monday’s briefing. Republican Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley and Democratic Ranking Member Dick Durbin issued a rare joint statement protesting their exclusion. They said the committee has jurisdiction over matters related to Maduro’s arrest. House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast defended the operation, saying Congress did not need to approve it beforehand. He compared it to Trump’s 2020 strike on Iranian General Qassem Suleimani and a June bombing raid on Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Mast emphasized that these actions were swift and did not require a long-term troop commitment. “They are not protracted wars. They never have been and never will be,” Mast said.