Secretary of State Marco Rubio made appearances on all three major Sunday political talk shows—NBC's Meet the Press (hosted by Kristen Welker), CBS's Face the Nation (hosted by Margaret Brennan), and ABC's This Week (hosted by George Stephanopoulos).
These interviews, conducted from Miami, focused heavily on the U.S. military operation the previous day that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were brought to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
Key Themes Across the Appearances
Rubio consistently emphasized that the operation was not an act of war against Venezuela but targeted drug trafficking threats to U.S. national security. He downplayed President Trump's statement that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela, clarifying it meant influencing policy direction rather than direct governance. Rubio highlighted ongoing oil sanctions (described as a "quarantine") as primary leverage to push for changes benefiting U.S. interests and the Venezuelan people, including stopping drug flows, gang migration, and adversary influence.
He avoided ruling out future military options, noting the president "retains all optionality," but stressed the current focus on economic pressure over occupation or boots on the ground. Discussions touched on opposition figures like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González (with Rubio expressing admiration but noting practical realities), and potential broader implications (e.g., hints at pressure on Cuba).
Meet the Press (NBC)
Marco Rubio says Maduro’s capture ‘not a war against Venezuela’: Full interview https://t.co/DiXsmPi0MK pic.twitter.com/ci1MFMdCq4
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 4, 2026
Rubio addressed whether the U.S. is "at war" with Venezuela, insisting it's a fight against drug cartels. He explained U.S. policy involvement aims to secure national interests, such as halting threats from Venezuela. When pressed on governing Venezuela, he reframed it as directing policy for positive change.
Face the Nation (CBS)
ICYMI: Watch @margbrennan's full interview this morning with Secretary of State Marco Rubio below. https://t.co/S7uTv75ihY pic.twitter.com/9s6MTXBy3u
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 4, 2026
Rubio discussed the oil-dependent Venezuelan economy and how sanctions provide leverage without immediate occupation. He praised the Maduro capture operation's precision and said the U.S. would judge future actions (e.g., by interim figures like Delcy Rodríguez) by results, prioritizing U.S. security threats.
This Week (ABC)
Sec. Rubio on how the U.S. is currently operating in Venezuela: “The armada of boats that are currently positioned allow us to seize any sanctioned boats coming into or out of Venezuela, loaded with oil or on its way in to pick up oil, and we can pick and choose which ones we go… pic.twitter.com/TSAhCujoi6
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 4, 2026
Rubio outlined the oil quarantine as key leverage for meeting U.S. and Venezuelan interests. He addressed legal authority for actions and avoided specifics on timelines or further interventions, focusing on observable changes over rhetoric.
These appearances marked a coordinated effort to shape public narrative on the unfolding Venezuela situation early in 2026, amid bipartisan criticism and questions about long-term U.S. involvement.