Marco Rubio Rips ‘Confused’ CBS Host Over Questioning on Maduro Arrest [WATCH]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio forcefully defended the Trump administration’s operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, sharply rebuking CBS host Margaret Brennan during a tense exchange on Sunday’s broadcast of Face the Nation, as reported by Fox News.

The exchange unfolded as Brennan pressed Rubio on why the United States limited its military action to the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, rather than detaining additional members of the Venezuelan regime who have also been indicted by U.S. authorities.

“I’m curious because you just described the regime as still in place, essentially. I’m curious why the Trump administration decided to leave it intact and only arrest Nicolás Maduro and his wife,” Brennan said.

After listing several regime figures who remain in Venezuela despite facing U.S. indictments, Brennan added, “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 responded bluntly.

“You’re confused? I don’t know why that’s confusing to you,” he said.

Brennan noted that many of the regime figures she referenced are still in positions of power. Rubio replied that expanding the mission would have dramatically increased the risks and consequences.

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“Yeah, but you’re going to go in and suck up five people? They are already complaining about this 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 emphasized that the administration targeted its highest priority.

“We got the top priority. 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,” he said.

“And that was a pretty sophisticated and, frankly, complicated operation.”

“It was,” Brennan responded.

Rubio then detailed the scope of the mission, underscoring why it could not be easily replicated across multiple locations at once.

He described how U.S. forces landed helicopters on Venezuela’s largest military base, breached Maduro’s residence, placed him in custody, read him his rights, and transported him out of the country — all without losing any American lives or equipment.

“That’s not an easy mission, and you’re asking me why didn’t we do that at five other places at the same time?” Rubio said. “I mean, that’s absurd.”

Brennan later reiterated her concern that other indicted members of the regime remain in Venezuela.

“I’m asking why you chose that this was the limit of the military operation,” she said.

Rubio again pointed to Maduro’s status, noting that he claimed to be Venezuela’s leader and was the central figure targeted by the United States.

The operation took place during a limited nighttime mission on Jan. 3, when U.S. forces captured Maduro and Flores and transported them into U.S. custody. Federal prosecutors have since filed criminal charges against both, according to administration officials.

The exchange highlighted continued debate in the media over the scope of U.S. action in Venezuela, even as Trump administration officials stress that the mission achieved its primary objective without escalation or American casualties.

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