Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged lawmakers to temper expectations for rapid change in Venezuela during a lengthy Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, his first appearance before Congress since the Trump administration’s recent operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Rubio, who is also serving as national security adviser, faced nearly three hours of questioning that touched on the administration’s use of military force, its handling of Venezuela’s oil industry, relations with Congress, and President Trump’s rhetoric toward U.S. allies. While Rubio defended the administration’s actions, frustration was evident among both Democrats and Republicans over transparency and consultation with Congress.
Below are five key takeaways from the hearing.
Military Force Remains an Option, but Not an Imminent One
Rubio made clear that the administration is not removing military force from its list of options in Venezuela, particularly if Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim president, fails to comply with U.S. demands. At the same time, he emphasized that there are no current plans for further military action.
“The president never rules out his options as commander in chief to protect the national interest of the United States,” Rubio said.
He added, “I can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time. The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guard.”
Rubio reiterated that U.S. military involvement was limited to the brief operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture. That explanation has been central to the administration’s effort to block a Senate war powers resolution earlier this month. Still, Rubio acknowledged in prepared remarks that the U.S. is prepared to use force if necessary to “ensure maximum cooperation.”
Rubio Lowers Expectations on the Pace of Change in Venezuela
The secretary outlined a three-phase plan to transition Venezuela away from what he described as a corrupt and authoritarian system, but he declined to offer a firm timeline. He acknowledged that success is far from guaranteed.
“I can’t give you a timeline of how long it takes, it can’t take forever, it’s not even been four weeks,” Rubio said, while suggesting lawmakers should expect to see more progress in three and six months.
Rubio also noted that previous efforts to pressure Venezuela had stalled.
“Other than more sanctions and more speeches and more threats and whatever, it was a frozen situation,” he said. “Now, for the first time in literally a decade, there is the opportunity that something could change. There’s not the guarantee that something will change, but there is the opportunity that something will change.”
The hearing also highlighted tensions around the Venezuelan opposition. Rubio was questioned about María Corina Machado, the opposition leader whose surrogate, Edmundo González, international observers say won the 2024 election. After Sen. Tim Kaine relayed Machado’s disappointment with President Trump’s comments questioning her legitimacy, Rubio responded affirmatively when asked if he respects her. He added that the administration is grappling with the reality of who currently controls Venezuela’s institutions and security forces.
Venezuela’s Oil Strategy Framed as a Short-Term Measure
Rubio defended the administration’s decision to take control of Venezuela’s oil exports and revenues, describing the approach as a temporary solution to prevent economic collapse following Maduro’s removal.
He rejected characterizations of the policy as a blockade, telling lawmakers that a blockade would constitute an act of war. Instead, he described the current arrangement as a quarantine designed to manage exports.
Rubio said the administration’s decision to work with trading firms Trafigura and Vitol was driven by logistical constraints.
“We had to move that oil very quickly,” he said, arguing that Venezuela would have otherwise run out of storage and been forced to halt production.
He emphasized that the long-term goal is for Venezuela to return to normal market operations, selling oil directly to refineries and energy companies. Rubio also defended the U.S. takeover of oil revenues to fund government operations and salaries, noting that the Venezuelan government would submit budget requests to Washington and that oil proceeds would be audited.
“We haven’t finalized what that audit process would be,” Rubio said. “We’ve only made one payment and that payment we did, and retrospectively will be audited.”
Bipartisan Frustration Over Congressional Oversight
Lawmakers from both parties expressed irritation over what they described as insufficient communication and consultation from the administration. Several senators argued that Congress has been sidelined on decisions related to Venezuela and other overseas actions.
“I do think the administration could get Congress to be a better partner by informing us better,” said Sen. John Curtis, who chairs the Western Hemisphere subcommittee.
Sen. Rand Paul pressed Rubio on the administration’s legal justification for military actions, rejecting the argument that the U.S. is not engaged in war.
“Our arguments are empty, the drug busts isn’t really an argument, it’s a ruse, the war argument — not a war, is a war — is a ruse,” Paul said. “We do what we do because we have the force, we have the might, because it’s in our interest.”
“I think the arguments are invalid,” he added.
Democrats Challenge Trump’s Rhetoric on Greenland and NATO
Beyond Venezuela, Democrats used the hearing to question Rubio about President Trump’s recent comments regarding Greenland and NATO. They argued that such rhetoric risks undermining trust among U.S. allies and strengthening adversaries.
“President Trump’s threats to take Greenland have shaken public confidence in the United States to the core,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said, citing concerns she heard during a recent visit to Denmark.
Sen. Chris Coons criticized Trump’s remarks about NATO troops, calling them “appalling” and warning that such statements “profoundly harm our security.” He urged Rubio to reinforce the U.S. commitment to NATO.
