WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's recent military operation in Venezuela during a tense exchange on CBS's Face the Nation, pushing back against questions about why more top officials from Nicolás Maduro's regime were not captured alongside the former leader.
The operation, which took place last week, resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges. U.S. forces executed a daring raid on the largest military base in Venezuela, where Maduro had been residing, extracting the pair without any loss of American personnel or assets. Rubio, appearing on the program Sunday morning, described the mission as "one of the most daring, complicated, sophisticated missions this country has carried out in a very long time."
Host Margaret Brennan pressed Rubio on the scope of the raid, noting that while Maduro was in custody, other key figures in his government—also indicted by U.S. authorities—remained at large and in power. "I’m curious why the Trump administration decided to leave [Maduro’s regime] intact and only arrest Nicolás Maduro and his wife," Brennan said, highlighting the continued influence of Maduro's allies.
Rubio, visibly irritated, responded sharply: “You’re confused? I don’t know why that is confusing to you.” As Brennan reiterated that the regime was "still in power," Rubio accused critics of excessive complaints about the single arrest, arguing that expanding the operation would have invited international backlash.
“You’re going to go in and suck up five people? They are already complaining about this one operation. Imagine the howls we would have from everybody else if we actually had to go and stay there four days to capture four other people,” Rubio said.
The secretary emphasized the challenges of the raid, which involved landing helicopters on the fortified military base, breaching Maduro's residence, securing the targets, and exfiltrating within three minutes. "It is not easy to land helicopters in the middle of the largest military base in the country. The guy lived on a military base. Land within three minutes, kick down his door, grab him, put him in handcuffs, read him his rights, and leave the country without losing any American or any American assets," Rubio detailed.
Brennan acknowledged the operation's complexity but persisted: “Right, but the others who were also indicted are still in place, so that is the point of my questioning there. You talked about not being the legitimate president—” Rubio interrupted, questioning whether she wanted U.S. forces to raid "five other military bases."
The exchange underscored ongoing debates about U.S. intervention in Venezuela, a nation mired in political and economic crisis since Hugo Chávez's death in 2013. Maduro, who succeeded Chávez, has faced widespread international condemnation for alleged election fraud, human rights abuses, and ties to drug cartels. The United States, along with more than 60 countries, the European Union, and several Latin American nations, has refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president since he claimed victory in disputed 2018 and 2024 elections.
Under the Biden administration, which preceded Trump's return to office, the U.S. indicted Maduro and several associates in 2020 on narcoterrorism charges, accusing them of conspiring with Colombian rebels to flood the U.S. with cocaine. Flores, Maduro's wife and a powerful figure in the regime, was also named in the indictments. The Trump administration's decision to act on these charges came amid heightened tensions, including Venezuela's alleged involvement in regional instability and migration pressures on the U.S. southern border.
Rubio, a longtime critic of Maduro during his time as a senator, praised the military's execution: "Tremendous credit to the U.S. military personnel who did it. It was unbelievable, and a tremendous success." He portrayed Maduro as "an indicted drug trafficker—who was not the legitimate president of Venezuela," reinforcing the administration's stance that the raid targeted the regime's symbolic head without escalating to full-scale regime change.
Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers and international observers, have questioned the operation's limited scope. According to reports from the State Department, the raid was planned over several months, involving intelligence from U.S. allies in the region. Venezuelan opposition leaders, who have long called for Maduro's ouster, welcomed the arrest but expressed concern that leaving co-conspirators in place could allow the regime to regroup.
The operation's success was confirmed by Pentagon officials on Friday, who released declassified footage showing the helicopters' approach to the Caracas-based military base at dawn. No Venezuelan military casualties were reported, though local media claimed minor damage to base infrastructure. Maduro and Flores were transported to a secure U.S. facility in Florida, where they await arraignment in federal court in New York, scheduled for next week.
In the interview, Rubio dismissed broader criticisms, insisting the mission achieved its primary objective. "We got the top priority. The number one person on the list was the guy who claimed to be the president of the country that he was not, and he was arrested along with his wife who is also indicted," he said. Brennan countered by asking why the administration set limits on the operation, to which Rubio replied, “He was the top target.”
The raid has ripple effects across Latin America. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has advocated dialogue with Maduro's government, condemned the U.S. action as a violation of sovereignty, while Colombian officials, long allies in anti-drug efforts, praised the move. In Washington, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez, a Democrat, called for briefings on why additional indictments were not pursued, stating in a statement: "Capturing Maduro is a victory, but half-measures risk prolonging Venezuela's suffering."
Human rights groups like Amnesty International have urged the U.S. to address the broader crisis, where hyperinflation and shortages have displaced millions. The United Nations reported last month that over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled since 2014, many seeking asylum in the U.S. and neighboring countries.
Looking ahead, the Trump administration faces decisions on Venezuela's interim leadership. Rubio hinted at increased sanctions on remaining officials, saying the U.S. would "continue to isolate the narcoterrorist network." Legal experts anticipate Maduro's trial could reveal new details on his regime's operations, potentially leading to further indictments. As the dust settles from the raid, questions linger about whether this strike marks the beginning of deeper U.S. involvement or a contained success in the fight against transnational crime.
The interview, which aired at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on CBS, drew immediate reactions on social media, with hashtags like #VenezuelaRaid trending. Analysts from think tanks such as the Council on Foreign Relations noted that while the operation bolstered U.S. credibility in counter-narcotics, it might complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region. For now, Maduro's capture stands as a bold chapter in U.S.-Venezuela relations, but the story of the regime's remnants is far from over.