A Chinese expert said that the US’ capture of Maduro constitutes a typical example of hegemonic unilateralism and delivers a systemic shock to the international order, noting that such action accelerates the fragmentation of the international legal system and deepen the global trust deficit in the rule of international law.

The capture has garnered widespread international media attention, with some media outlets calling into question the legality of US’s action.

CNN News explained Trump’s legal authority in Venezuela in a report published on Saturday, saying that military operation means the questions about Trump’s legal authorities could again be tested – just as he’s already tested them with his legally dubious strikes on alleged drug boats and other actions in the region.

The report also said that the story of Trump’s administration stretching of the law certainly isn’t over.

“Expressions of unbridled power don’t come blunter than abducting a sitting president from his capital in the dead of night,” CNN News noted in a report titled “Trump’s snatching of Maduro shows a new level of unrestrained global power”.

US hopes to use this military action to “strike” Venezuela and establish US hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, US wants to “make an example of it” by overthrowing Maduro’s government and supporting a pro-American administration locally, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies of Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

The US’ move openly violated the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs enshrined in the UN Charter, completely undermines the bottom line of jurisdictional immunity enjoyed by a sitting head of state under international law, and represents yet another dangerous step in placing “domestic law above international law,” Pan Deng, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Region Law Center of China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times.

By bypassing authorization from the UN Security Council and resorting to unilateral judicial and military means to handle international disputes, the US is, in essence, substituting multilateral rules with the will of power, seriously eroding the authority of the UN’s core mechanisms, Pan said.

The Guardian also ran headlines infused with tones of skepticism to cover the incident, saying that “Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela?” The report said that the legality of the operation has been called into question – with even some of Trump’s allies suggesting it violated international law.

Some reports have additionally focused on worldwide responses to Maduro’s capture. The New York Times ran headlines with “shock and skepticism” to cover the global reaction to US’ seize of Maduro. In another report, the Guardian used “Global outcry” to report the incident, saying that “The US has been condemned for breaking international law after it launched airstrikes on the Venezuelan capital and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.”

AI Jazeera reported US’ operation as an “Act of War” in the headline, citing experts to reject Trump rationale for Venezuela attack.

In addition to intense media coverage, the capture has further triggered mounting domestic anger across the US. US Democratic lawmakers on Saturday also showed their distress in the aftermath of the US raid on Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Maduro early Saturday morning, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

They said that Congress had not been notified in advance and that Trump administration had previously lied to Congress about its goal in the oil-rich South American nation. Meanwhile, they demanded an immediate briefing on the operation and on the White House's next move, per Xinhua.

Across the US, Americans have taken to the streets to protest Trump’s military operation in Venezuela and capture of Maduro and his wife. Dozens have gathered outside the White House, holding signs reading “No War on Venezuela,” “No blood for oil” and “US hands off Latin America.” Protesters sang and held up Venezuelan flags, per CNN’s report.

In New York, crowds gathered in Times Square outside the US Army Recruiting Office, holding signs against war in Venezuela.

In Boston, crowds chanted “No more blood for oil / Hands off Venezuelan soil,” and held signs reading “Venezuela’s Not The Problem. Empire Is” and “No War on Venezuela” as local activists spoke against the strike.

A hoard of people from Minneapolis braved the freezing temperatures to protest, waving the Venezuelan flag and holding signs reading “Free President Maduro.”

Smaller protests have also occurred in Atlanta, while more in Chicago and Los Angeles are scheduled later this evening, CNN reported.