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Marco Rubio Says "the President Always Retains Optionality" to Occupy Venezuela

Marco Rubio described the Maduro capture as a brief law-enforcement operation not needing congressional approval, emphasizing ongoing U.S. oil quarantines and naval actions to curb regime revenue.

  • On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended U.S. airstrikes and the capture of Nicolás Maduro as a short, precision law-enforcement raid dependent on triggers and weather.
  • Amid a White House blockade announced last month, U.S. naval forces have seized multiple vessels and struck more than 30 boats using an oil 'quarantine' that allows seizure with court orders, Rubio said.
  • Journalists at The New York Times and The Washington Post held off publishing details shortly to protect U.S. troops, and Rubio thanked media outlets for preserving operational security amid leak risks.
  • Facing legal critique, Rubio said congressional approval was unnecessary because the strike was not an extended military operation and was not an invasion, while members of Congress and legal experts called the operation illegal.
  • Rubio stressed that the ongoing oil 'quarantine' gives leverage, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that an attack on Venezuela's mainland would require congressional approval, while President Donald Trump signaled possible further actions including boots on the ground.
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Lean Left

Mixed messages from Trump and Rubio on who's running Venezuela

Confusion continued Monday amid seemingly contradictory messages from President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about how the U.S. is dealing with Venezuela.

·United States
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Center

Rubio is the character of the moment: among the most experienced and competent of the Trump administration, he is a "hawk" on Latin America

·Italy
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The Detroit News broke the news in Detroit, United States on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
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