Rubio Faces Tough Senate Grilling Over Trump’s Venezuela Military Move

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify before the Senate on Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump’s Venezuela policy, marking his first public appearance before lawmakers since the controversial January 3 operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio, once a longtime senator himself, is expected to encounter a far more skeptical audience than during his unanimous confirmation last year. The hearing follows a narrowly defeated war powers resolution that sought to block further U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, a vote that required Vice President JD Vance to break a tie after intense lobbying by Trump and Rubio.

According to prepared remarks submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio will defend the operation as a success and maintain that the United States is not at war with Venezuela and has no occupation underway. He is expected to outline a “stage-based plan” to restore stability through interim authorities while warning that force remains an option if cooperation falters. However, frustration has been building in Congress, including among some Republicans, over what lawmakers describe as limited consultation and communication from the administration on major foreign policy actions. Committee Chairman Jim Risch is expected to voice support for Rubio’s outreach while acknowledging public concern about avoiding prolonged overseas conflicts.

Democrats and several Republicans have raised constitutional concerns about presidential war powers, arguing Congress should have a decisive role in authorizing military action. Senator Chris Coons said he has “maybe 20 questions” for Rubio, criticizing the administration for failing to provide evidence justifying urgent unilateral action or linking alleged threats to U.S. national security. The close Senate vote on the war powers resolution underscored bipartisan unease over Trump’s foreign policy direction, as he has recently suggested prolonged U.S. involvement in Venezuela and signaled willingness to use military pressure in other global disputes.

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