Secretary of State Marco Rubio went on Meet the Press this weekend and did something Washington media rarely experiences anymore, he explained reality, slowly, clearly, and without apologizing for it. The topic was the Trump administration’s successful operation to capture Venezuelan narco dictator Nicolas Maduro, and Rubio dismantled the breathless claim that the United States somehow launched an illegal war.
NBC host Kristen Welker opened with a truly ridiculous question, asking whether the U.S. is now “at war” with Venezuela. Rubio looked almost amused as he corrected her. No, there is no war. Venezuela does not even have a functioning leader at this point. What the United States did was enforce the law, the same way it has done for decades, by seizing oil tankers, striking drug boats, and apprehending an indicted fugitive.
Rubio explained that congressional approval was not required because this was not an invasion and not an extended military operation. It was a precise, trigger based mission that unfolded over a matter of hours. He emphasized that notifying Congress ahead of time would have been reckless, because leaks would have endangered U.S. troops and likely killed the mission outright. Anyone who has watched Washington leak classified material for political gain knows exactly what he was talking about.
“This was not an attack on Venezuela,” Rubio said. “This was a law enforcement function to capture an indicted drug trafficker.” He explained that military support was necessary because Maduro’s forces possess anti aircraft systems capable of shooting down helicopters. Radar and air defenses had to be neutralized on the way in and out. That does not magically transform an arrest into a war, no matter how badly cable news wants the headline.
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Welker repeatedly tried to box Rubio into promising congressional approval for future actions. Rubio did not budge. He stated plainly that the administration will seek congressional approval when it is legally required and provide notification when appropriate. This operation did not meet that threshold. He noted that virtually every president over the last 40 years has conducted similar missions, and the only reason Democrats are melting down now is because it was President Trump who ordered it.
That point was reinforced later during a joint press conference with President Trump. Rubio again explained that this was not the kind of mission you pre notify because conditions had to align perfectly and secrecy was essential. President Trump added the blunt truth that Congress leaks and they did not want leakers. Anyone pretending that statement is controversial is pretending not to understand Washington.
The operation itself was swift and decisive. U.S. forces were in and out. Maduro and his wife were captured. He was indicted in the Southern District of New York on narco terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons charges, and transported to face American justice. President Trump later described how Maduro was “bum rushed so fast” he had no chance to escape, and warned that the U.S. was prepared with overwhelming force if needed.
This entire episode exposed the media narrative for what it is. When President Trump enforces the law successfully, Democrats scream “illegal.” When they do nothing and let criminals run free, they call it restraint. Rubio’s calm, factual dismantling of that nonsense was a reminder of what competent leadership actually sounds like.
We are so lucky to have him in that position and to have the greatest President of the modern era.