If Trump felt beholden to congress, he would not have gotten approval. He would have had to spend years spreading propaganda and trying to build up a case, like Bush did. All that effort might have prevented him from doing it at all.
More importantly, doing this is trying to peel off people who might waver because Maduro is unsympathetic. It highlights that yes, this is a dictatorship in the making.
If Trump felt beholden to congress, he would not have gotten approval. He would have had to spend years spreading propaganda and trying to build up a case, like Bush did. All that effort might have prevented him from doing it at all.
More importantly, doing this is trying to peel off people who might waver because Maduro is unsympathetic. It highlights that yes, this is a dictatorship in the making.