Keating Statement on US Occupation of Venezuela

January 3, 2026 Press Release BOURNE, MA - Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), a Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement this afternoon after President Trump's press conference following U.S. Military action in Venezuela: "Make no mistake, this is one of the most eye opening days in US political history. President Trump has just announced that he is taking control of the sovereign country of Venezuela until he feels fit to return it. He will install his Secretary of Defense, his Secretary of State, his and his Joint Chiefs Chairman to run the day to day operations. Additionally he is ordering US oil companies to enter Venezuela and take control of their energy industry. He personally will control billions of dollars that he has no right to access. Donald Trump is no more the legitimate president of Venezuela than was Nicholas Maduro." Issues : FOREIGN AFFAIRS