Within hours of Maduro's arrest, liberal academic experts were seizing any opportunity to lambaste President Trump, calling the action illegal and "an act of war." According to the College Fix, professors from the universities of Michigan, Massachusetts, UC Davis, Pennsylvania, and many others have all criticized and spoken out against Trump.
Some say that Trump’s actions were “off the rails,” that the justifications were not valid, and that there was no basis under international law. Others say this is in violation to Maduro’s personal, international rights and Venezuelan sovereignty. They also point to this being against the U.N. Charter, which the U.S. signed.
On the other hand, Sheridan College Professor Vito Masi, a native of Venezuela, longed for the end of Maduro's dictatorship and "expressed relief" at the U.S. intervention.
Rachel Adana, a professor of law as UC Davis, is on the side that Trump’s actions were not valid. She does acknowledge, unlike others, that Maduro was an "illegitimate leader" and a “human rights abuser,” noting this is why Venezuelans would be celebrating. Her criticism lies in that she does think the decision should have come unilaterally, but she recognizes the precedent set forth by former President George H. W. Bush when apprehending Panama’s president in 1989.
Dave Huber, associate editor of The College Fix, spoke regarding this this, highlighting on the others who accused Trump of violating the Constitution.
"If Biden had initiated an operation similar to this, you're not going to see — I mean, technically, the same arguments would apply — but you're not going to see people out there grasping on the airwaves here to let everybody know that this is technically illegal, etc., etc.," states Huber.
Despite that, Huber believes that the criticism will continue well beyond the initial capture of Maduro and his wife.
“Of course, they will. It's inevitable, particularly among the left — the outright lying and falsehoods that come out about certain things. They'll carry this on as long as they possibly can to help them in November," says Huber.
