Kentucky leaders react to US strike on Venzuela

Sen. Rand Paul — an outspoken Republican opponent of the series of US strikes on alleged drug boats and the increasingly warlike posture taken toward Venezuela in recent months — took to X to both criticize Venezuela's government and to caution about overreach of executive power. He noted the action originated with President Donald Trump and not Congress. The Senate is slated to vote next week on a measure that would block further military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, a push Paul has supported in the past.

Kentucky opponents of the strike include Democratic Congressman Morgan McGarvey, who accused Trump of using US troops "for personal gain, for oil companies, and in the interest of billionaire executives, not the interest of the American people."

In a post, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie questioned the constitutionality of the strike.

Meanwhile, Congressman Andy Barr — a fervent Trump supporter who is running for Senate — praised the military action and described narco-terrorism as a real threat to states like Kentucky, saying it has "devastated families across the Commonwealth."

Republican Rep. Hal Rogers took a similar tack, focusing on drugs he said were "flooding into our American communities from Venezuela." He went on to add that the strike was a "monumental display of US force against the cartels and dictators who pursue terrorism over peace."