Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., issued a sharp warning on Nov. 29 regarding President Donald Trump’s posture toward Venezuela, accusing him of edging the U.S. "closer and closer to another costly foreign war." (Reuters)
"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," he wrote.
That post came a week after the Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines of a "worsening security situation" in the area.
While speaking to U.S. service members on Thanksgiving, Trump said the U.S. will "very soon" begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers "by land."
DEM PRESSURE BUILDS FOR ANSWERS ON TRUMP’S CARIBBEAN STRIKES, COMMANDER'S SUDDEN EXIT
President Donald Trump was criticized by Senator Chuck Schumer on Saturday for his recent approach towards Venezuela. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Asked whether he ruled out troop deployments, Trump responded, "No, I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything."
On Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea.
"As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes," Hegseth wrote on X. "The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization."
Hegseth's statement followed reports from multiple news outlets, including The Washington Post and CNN, that claimed the U.S. military ordered a second strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean on Sept. 2 after the initial attack left two survivors.
"As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland," Hegseth added in his post.
House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Ranking Member Adam Smith, D-Wash., issued a joint statement Saturday reiterating that the committee is "committed to providing rigorous oversight of the Department of Defense’s military operations in the Caribbean."
"We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question," the lawmakers wrote.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized President Trump for his handling of Venezuela. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton, Brie Stimson, Greg Norman and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Michael Sinkewicz is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.sinkewicz@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-accuses-trump-pushing-us-toward-foreign-war-venezuela