Trump and Rubio Defend Secret Venezuela Strike That Captured Nicolas Maduro

By James Morley III | Saturday, 03 January 2026 02:44 PM EST
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s decision not to brief senior congressional leaders ahead of a U.S. strike in Venezuela, arguing that advance notice would have jeopardized the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking Saturday at a press conference, Rubio described the mission as “trigger-based,” unfolding only when specific conditions were met after days of monitoring. He stated it was not a type of operation that allowed for advance congressional notification, emphasizing that the action was fundamentally a law-enforcement mission involving the arrest of “two indicted fugitives of American justice” with military support from the Department of Justice.

Rubio acknowledged broader policy implications but maintained that pre-notification would have endangered U.S. forces and the success of the mission.

Trump echoed Rubio’s position, bluntly noting that Congress has “a tendency to leak,” which he said could have produced a “very different result.”

The comments followed reports that multiple sources indicated the so-called “Gang of Eight”—the top Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress and chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees—were not briefed before the operation began. Such leaders are typically notified of highly sensitive national security actions.

Trump also stated that Venezuelan forces were aware U.S. action was possible, citing the visible presence of U.S. ships in the region, but insisted that limiting advance disclosure was necessary to protect the mission and U.S. personnel.