“Are You Confused?”: Rubio Responds to ‘Ridiculous’ Question from Margaret Brennan

Rubio and Brennan Spar Over Venezuelan Arrests

Secretary of State Marco Rubio found himself in a heated exchange with “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan on Sunday as he raised concerns about the lack of arrests of other Venezuelan officials indicted in connection with drug trafficking.

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump revealed that U.S. troops, including elite Delta Force members, played a role in capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas early Saturday. Brennan questioned why only Maduro and his wife faced arrest, which prompted Rubio’s response. “Are you confused? Don’t you see why you’re confused?” Rubio asked sharply, to which Brennan pointed out that they still hold power.

During a press conference on the operation, Trump stated that the U.S. was effectively “running” Venezuela, mentioning that key officials, including Rubio, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine, would oversee the efforts.

Rubio remarked, “Are we going to go in and get five people? They’ve already complained about one operation. If we had to stay there for four days to apprehend four individuals, just imagine the outcry.” He continued, stressing the complexity of the operation: capturing a leader living on a military base requires precision, and they succeeded without loss. “Why didn’t you go for five other locations at the same time? That’s just unrealistic!”

Trump highlighted that U.S. forces faced no casualties during the mission, both in his press conference and on Truth Social following Maduro’s capture. “This was a daring, complex mission,” Rubio noted, commending the U.S. military’s execution. He emphasized Maduro’s illegitimacy as president, stating that he, along with his wife, has been indicted as drug traffickers, which is not recognized by several nations, including the Biden administration.