A new Washington Post poll confirms what most Americans already know: it’s not the U.S. president’s job to choose the leader of another country.

An overwhelming majority — across Republicans, Democrats, and Independents — believe the Venezuelan people should decide who leads them. Only 6 percent say the U.S. should have that power.

And yet President Trump has taken it upon himself to launch a full-scale military intervention in Venezuela, culminating in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro — all without congressional approval or international authorization.

Let’s be clear: Maduro is an authoritarian leader responsible for serious human rights violations. But that doesn’t give Trump the right to violate international law, kill civilians at sea, and declare himself the arbiter of another country’s government. His administration has cited the Monroe Doctrine and a vague national security rationale, but the real effect is clear — one man in Washington deciding who gets to run a sovereign nation.

This is not how democracy works. Not in Venezuela. Not in the United States.

By bypassing Congress and taking unilateral military action, Trump has ignored the Constitution and defied the will of the American people. Our own founding values are based on the idea that power comes from the people — and that principle applies everywhere, not just at home.

We call on Trump and his administration to immediately cease all efforts to dictate Venezuela’s leadership and to respect the right of Venezuelans to choose their own path forward.

That includes acknowledging the results of Venezuela’s most recent elections and supporting peaceful, democratic processes — not military takeovers.

Congress must also act. It should block any further unauthorized military operations and formally assert that only Venezuelans have the right to determine their leaders.

America should stand for democracy — not impose it by force.

Sign this petition to demand Trump back down and let Venezuelans decide their future, not him.