Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly forcefully pushed back Sunday after CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan pressed him on why the United States targeted Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro while other figures tied to narcotics trafficking remain in positions of power.
Brennan attempted to corner Rubio during one of his multiple Sunday morning media appearances, suggesting the Trump administration’s decisive move against Maduro raised questions about why other alleged narco-terrorists were not simultaneously removed. The exchange quickly turned tense as Rubio walked her through the operational and strategic realities behind the mission.
Referencing Maduro’s arrest on Saturday, Brennan argued that other senior figures in Venezuela — also designated by the United States — were still in place. She specifically pointed to the country’s defense minister, whom she said has deep ties to Russia and a multimillion-dollar bounty on his head.
“The defense minister, who has deep ties to Russia, $15 million price on his head. He is still in place,” Brennan said. “I’m confused. Are they still wanted by the United States? Why didn’t you arrest them if you are taking out the narco terrorist regime?”
Rubio immediately rejected the premise of her question. “You’re confused? I don’t know why that’s confusing to you. I mean, it’s very simple,” he responded, before Brennan interrupted to insist that those figures remained in power.
“They’re still in power!” she protested.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio just took CBS’ Margaret Brennan to the woodshed on live TV over the Maduro raid.
“I don’t know why that’s confusing to you.”
Brennan spiraled over the fact that the operation did not seize EVERY narco terrorist in Venezuela, but Rubio hit her with… pic.twitter.com/6AtPJowG8A
— Overton (@overton_news) January 4, 2026
Rubio, clearly incredulous, shot back. “You’re not going to go in and… you’re going to go in and suck up five people?” he said, emphasizing the unrealistic nature of Brennan’s expectation. He pointed out that critics were already complaining loudly about a single high-risk operation.
“They are already complaining about the one operation!” Rubio said. “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 stressed that the administration focused on the most important target first. “We got the top priority,” he said. “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.”
The secretary then laid out the complexity of the operation, pushing back against the notion that such missions are simple or easily repeatable on demand. “That was a pretty sophisticated and frankly, complicated operation,” Rubio explained, a point Brennan briefly acknowledged.
Rubio detailed the risks involved, noting that Maduro lived on a heavily secured military base. “It is not easy to land helicopters in the middle of the largest military base in the country,” he said. He described the operation as one that required precision timing, speed, and flawless execution.
“Land within three minutes, kick down his door, grab him, put him in handcuffs, read him his rights, put him in a helicopter and leave the country without losing any American or any American assets,” Rubio said. “That’s not an easy mission.”
He concluded by calling Brennan’s line of questioning unreasonable. “That’s not an easy mission and you’re asking me why didn’t we do that in five other places at the same time?” Rubio said. “I mean, that’s absurd!”
The exchange highlighted the growing frustration among Trump administration officials with what they see as media attempts to downplay or second-guess a highly complex and risky operation. Rubio made clear that the administration’s approach is deliberate, targeted, and focused on achievable objectives — not satisfying media hypotheticals.
[READ MORE: US Attacks Venezuela, Captures Maduro During Incredible Special Forces Raid]
