We asked, you answered: How do you feel about Trump taking control of Venezuela?

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NH Rep. Maggie Goodlander recently called out President Donald Trump for turning his back on the American economy by shifting focus to Venezuela. This week, we asked readers for their take. Here’s what they had to say…

“Deplorable abuse of his office!” — Joyce Perkins

“Invading another country is wrong, period. And invading to steal another country’s resources?! This is what America has become now?!!?? Another greedy, short-sighted, thug country creating more chaos and danger in our fragile world. Will we never learn from history? Outrageous!” — Mary Livingston

“Finally, a president who is putting a stop to the drugs from Venezuela that have been killing Americans.” — Carol Baldwin

“Without congressional consultation or approval, an illegal attack and abduction of an independent country. No doubt about it—Maduro is horrible. But doing this gives license for other authoritarians to do the same. My God, this is what Russia has done in Ukraine, and surely now there is ‘permission’ for China to do this to Taiwan. In fact, with the president’s continued threats, saber waving, and imperial ambitions—not honoring the rule of law—our greatest allies fear and no longer trust us.” — Linda Lea Snyder

“Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela does not make the United States safer, and it sets a dangerous precedent for dictators and aspiring autocrats around the world, from Vladimir Putin to Xi Jinping. As Mark Twain wrote, ‘America cannot have an empire abroad and a Republic at home.'” — Carleigh Beriont

“Trump has gone rogue, and the problem is that he is no longer using the legislative branch of our government for actions or decision-making. When the courts rule against him, he does it anyway, and there are no consequences for him when he ignores their court rulings. His actions are illegal and go against the Constitution and democracy in America. He is blowing up countries, stealing land he thinks he should have, and products from the countries he is pilfering. Venezuela voted for another president with 70% of voters, and yet he is letting people from the same administration he just abducted to the U.S. continue to rule the country.” — Elaina Valzania

“Above all else, the United States is governed by rules of law. Absent a direct and immediate threat to the safety of our residents, absolutely no action should have been or continue to be taken in Venezuela without the consent of the duly elected representatives of the people in Congress. Period.” — Sharon Powers

“Trump has far exceeded his authority as defined by the Constitution of the United States of America. He has committed piracy, kidnapping, unauthorized invasion of a neighboring country, and the murder of its citizens. Even if a state of war existed between the S. and Venezuela, the people killed were noncombatants. I am disgusted, saddened, and close to despair over what is happening in my country.” — JoAnn Carlson

“I went to Vietnam, and it was wrong, but I thought I was doing my duty for the country at the time. We went to Kuwait and Iraq for what ultimately turned out to be oil ($), courtesy of Dick Cheney, and it was wrong. There are other examples, but the fact remains: Trump and his entourage are just in it for the money and to divert attention from themselves. We shouldn’t be there either—good or bad, it was a sovereign nation. P.S. I’m an independent; I believe they are both wrong in their own ways!” — Mike Blackledge

“A military strike on a foreign country without congressional approval is plainly illegal. However, this won’t be the straw that broke the camel’s back regarding this administration’s lawlessness; instead it’s a straw thrown on the flattened corpse of a camel that’s been run over hundreds of times. We’re in deep, deep trouble, kids.” — Bob Weiner

“Illegal power grab for oil money, which I’m sure he will profit from personally.” — Nancy Fiske

“It is impossible to find anything positive that Trump has done as president. I am almost afraid to read the news every day. It seems like our closest world ally heading forward will be Putin!” — Lynda Williams

“A deadly step, among many, in the wrong direction. It sets a precedent for God knows what.” — Ruth Carr