In the early days of Trump’s second term, there were doubts about how long Secretary of State Marco Rubio could maintain his position with President Donald Trump. Rubio, whose family hails from Cuba, has had a hawkish stance on foreign policy, which seemed to contradict Trump’s approach. The former president was known for his skepticism toward U.S. involvement in Ukraine and had surrounded himself with staunch anti-interventionists like Vice President J.D. Vance and Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence. After Trump secured the presidency in 2024, Pete Hegseth, the expected Secretary of the Army, referred to himself as a “recovering neocon.”
Fast forward to 2026, and Rubio is now one of the most significant figures in Washington, serving dual roles as the National Security Advisor and the Director of the National Archives. This duality harks back to the era of Henry Kissinger, who architected U.S. foreign policy during Nixon’s administration. According to Matt Kroenig, a former Pentagon official, Rubio is intelligent and talented, enriching his endeavors without trying to undermine Trump’s authority.
For nearly a decade, Rubio has been advocating for the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a goal he is gradually seeing take shape. “The U.S. military should only intervene in matters of national security,” Rubio stated in a 2018 interview, arguing that the situation in Venezuela poses a regional threat.
On January 3, special forces executed a mission in Caracas, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife. This marked a turning point. Maduro seemed to recognize the impending threat, especially as U.S. airstrikes began targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean, warning Trump about Rubio’s intentions.
Trump, it appears, was not opposed to the idea. Kroenig pointed out that Trump had paid considerable attention to Venezuela during his first term, realizing that his prior actions had not produced the results he had anticipated.
Although Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, took office, Trump has asserted that the U.S. will have control over Venezuela. Less than a year ago, Rubio found himself sidelined in diplomatic discussions, with media suggesting how his influence had diminished. Vanity Fair noted Rubio’s frustrations about being excluded from crucial decisions, contrasting with figures like Steve Witkoff, who was seen as taking charge.
Brian Hook, known for orchestrating the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, was initially set for a senior position but ultimately fell out of favor after Trump made dismissive comments about him.
Today, Rubio stands at the forefront of U.S. efforts in Venezuela. He has taken to television to clarify Trump’s statement regarding U.S. control, outlining a strategy that involves economic measures like sanctions and oil management to facilitate regime change. His plan for stabilization emphasizes control over oil exports, positioning him as the spokesperson for U.S. actions following Maduro’s capture.
Yet, neither the White House nor Rubio’s office has issued comments on the situation. In contrast, Vance and Gabbard have played less prominent roles in foreign policy discussions lately. Rubio, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe, was present with Trump during the operation to capture Maduro, while Vance monitored it remotely due to safety concerns.
Gabbard, who has previously denounced military intervention in Venezuela, did not engage publicly leading up to the operation. However, within days, she praised the mission’s execution on social media.
Afterwards, an administration official defended Gabbard, stating that her past views shouldn’t overshadow her current contributions. Meanwhile, Vance has been focusing more on domestic issues, such as the shooting incident involving ICE agents. He insists that both he and the White House are deeply embedded in the planning of the Venezuela operation.
Despite this, commentators believe Vance may harbor doubts about the operation’s likelihood of success. He could potentially sidestep responsibility if things don’t go as planned come 2028.
