A Defiant Rubio Defends Trump’s Maduro Capture on Sunday News Shows

In an interview on this Sunday’s Meet the Press, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the American operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, characterizing it as a law enforcement action against drug trafficking rather than a war. 

Prior to his interview with host, Kristen Welke on competing Sunday News Show, Face the Nation, Rubio said, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in on Saturday, is not the country’s legitimate leader. The Secretary of State said he spoke with Rodriguez — the country’s vice president — after the US conducted a daring military operation to capture the former Venezuelan strongman, Nicolas Maduro.

However, Rubio suggested the US will not support her staying in power. He called for elections to determine the next leader of the beleaguered South American country.

“This is not about the legitimate president. We don’t believe that this regime in place is legitimate via an election,” Rubio told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “And that’s not just us. It’s 60-something countries around the world that have taken that view as well.”

Other key points from his Sunday appearances and related statements include:

• Law Enforcement Operation: Rubio asserted the operation was a “law enforcement operation” to fulfill an existing U.S. indictment against Maduro on narco-terrorism and other charges, not a military invasion. He noted that U.S. forces were only in Venezuela for about two hours during the operation.
• “Fugitive of Justice”: He described Maduro, who was transferred to New York for a potential court appearance, as “a fugitive of American justice” and not the legitimate president of Venezuela.
• Missed Opportunities: Rubio stated that Maduro “had multiple opportunities to avoid this” by leaving the country, but “chose instead to act like a wild man”.
• Future of Venezuela: He was vague when asked who would run Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster, deflecting questions about President Trump’s claim that the U.S. would “run” the country. Rubio clarified the U.S. would be “running policy” and focusing on the national interest, not “running” the country itself. He also called discussions of immediate elections “premature”.
• Warning to Cuba: Rubio warned Cuban leaders that they “should be concerned” following the operation, citing Cuba’s heavy involvement in Venezuela’s security apparatus. 

Rubio also defended the administration against criticism of potential hypocrisy, referring questions about President Trump’s previous pardon of a former Honduran president with similar charges to the White House.