Trump intends to keep going; death toll reaches 43 — Washington warns: "We will kill those who..." (VIDEO)

He added that U.S. President Donald Trump will inform lawmakers about “potential future military operations against Venezuela and Colombia.”

Anger is growing on Capitol Hill over the strikes on alleged “narco-terrorists” in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, which have left at least 43 people dead and fueled speculation about an attempted regime change.

Lawmakers, including some Republicans, are demanding greater transparency. Whom the United States has killed — and on what evidence — remains unclear.

US deploys aircraft carrier

In another escalation, the United States has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the area after Trump suggested that land strikes could be inevitable.

Graham said he believes Trump decided it is “time for” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to “go,” calling land strikes a “real possibility.”

Last week Trump said his administration would “probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we’re doing” before launching land strikes, but added: “We don’t have to do that.”

Graham neither ruled out nor endorsed the idea of ground troops in Latin America, saying, “I’ll let the president speak about that.”

However, he added that the military will “kill people who want to poison America.”

Other Republicans unconvinced

While Trump has a staunch backer in Graham, other Republican lawmakers have questioned his authority to carry out the strikes and the limited evidence his administration has released about their militarized “war on drugs.”

Senator Rand Paul (Republican from Kentucky) said he “wasn’t invited to any briefing” — but added: “a briefing is not enough to overcome the Constitution.”

“We have not been shown the evidence. So at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings.”

Paul’s colleague across the aisle, Senator Ruben Gallego (Democrat from Arizona), called the strikes “sanctioned killing.” Graham dismissed Gallego’s comments, saying the military followed “lawful orders.”

Are the U.S. at war with Venezuela?

Graham said he “fundamentally” disagrees with Paul’s claim that the president should not act without Congress and a declaration of war.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but a formal declaration has not been issued since World War II.

“To the other senators: you deserve more information and you will get more information, but there is no requirement that Congress declare war before the commander-in-chief can use force,” Graham argued.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he will not seek a declaration of war and will simply “kill the people who bring drugs into our country.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday, when asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether the U.S. is at war with Venezuela, referred the question to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Pentagon did not respond to Graham’s prediction that the operation will expand onto Venezuelan soil.

Senator Mark Kelly (Democrat from Arizona) suggested that deploying the carrier strike group to the Caribbean could be intended as intimidation or a signal of possible combat operations.

“This makes us less safe. I mean, starting a war against Venezuela over what is essentially a law-enforcement action makes no sense,” Kelly said.