Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Venezuela: 'Blank Check' for Trump, Concerns Over Oil Motive and War Powers

Transcript: Sen. Chris Van Hollen on "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan — Jan. 4, 2026

Margaret Brennan: Welcome back to Face The Nation. I want to apologize to viewers — Congressman Himes' segment was interrupted by technical difficulties, not hiccups. You're here with me now in studio. We will speak with Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, who is joining us in person.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen: It's good to be here, Margaret.

Margaret Brennan: Congressman Himes argued that senior congressional oversight figures were not being given information. What leverage do Democrats have to compel the administration to treat Congress as a co-equal branch?

Sen. Van Hollen: It's very difficult when House and Senate Republicans are effectively absent. They appear prepared to give President Trump what amounts to a blank check because they still hold majorities. If Democrats retake a chamber in 2026, we'll have more institutional leverage, but until then we must take our case to the American public. In my view, this operation has not been primarily about stopping drugs — a goal we all support — but about ousting Maduro and seizing Venezuela's oil for U.S. oil companies and wealthy allies. That's why the President emphasized oil repeatedly in his remarks.

Margaret Brennan: You noted the President said "oil" about 20 times; the Defense Secretary used the term roughly six times. The administration would argue other states like China, Russia, and Iran seek similar gains. How do you reply?

Sen. Van Hollen: The response is straightforward: you don't invade a country to seize its natural resources. Even if other powers are active in Venezuela, military intervention to take resources is not an appropriate or legal response.

Margaret Brennan: Do you consider the U.S. operation an invasion?

Sen. Van Hollen: There were boots on the ground, and the leader was removed. The consequence has been immediate demands for access to Venezuela's oil. Our history shows that such interventions risk American lives and often produce unintended, long-term problems. Service members perform heroically, but the motive — enriching big oil and billionaire backers — is troubling.

Margaret Brennan: Venezuela also has critical minerals and other strategic resources. How should the U.S. secure those interests while upholding the principles you describe?

Sen. Van Hollen: The U.S. should strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and clean-energy technology without ceding markets to competitors like China. Securing strategic resources through diplomacy, trade policy, and international cooperation — not by risking American lives to seize oil — is the right approach.

Margaret Brennan: Chevron says it continues to operate in Venezuela. Hundreds of Americans reportedly remain there, and at least four have been detained. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, what do you know about those detained Americans?

Sen. Van Hollen: I haven't received a recent administration update on those detained Americans. Months ago I helped secure the return of a Marylander who had been detained; that person is now back in Baltimore. The administration is reviewing current detentions to determine which are wrongful. We should seek to bring home every American who is wrongfully held abroad, and this operation will complicate those efforts.

Margaret Brennan: Would you support designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of hostage-taking?

Sen. Van Hollen: I'm urging the administration to formally designate Americans who have been wrongfully seized as "wrongfully detained," which triggers diplomatic and legal tools to press for their return. Traditionally we would apply sanctions to extract concessions; instead, the administration chose military action. Yet the Venezuelan regime remains, and that creates significant complications.

Margaret Brennan: Former Attorney General Bill Barr suggested follow-up operations to dismantle criminal networks. Do you oppose "snatch and grab" operations of indicted figures?

Sen. Van Hollen: Each operation must be evaluated on its risks and legality, but we should not put American personnel in unnecessary danger. From what we can observe, the broader motivation here appears tied to resource access and corporate interests. At the same time, the administration has not prioritized many domestic issues it previously promised to address.

Margaret Brennan: On war powers: does the President have the legal authority to carry out this operation?

Sen. Van Hollen: No, he does not.

Margaret Brennan: You're on the Appropriations Committee. What can you do?

Sen. Van Hollen: Senator Jeff Merkley and I introduced a Senate resolution to block U.S. taxpayer funding for an attack on Venezuela, but Republicans blocked it from advancing. We'll continue to press: I expect a war-powers vote as soon as this week or next. Historically, most Republicans have opposed similar measures, leaving Democrats to push for congressional accountability.

Margaret Brennan: Senator Van Hollen, thank you. There's much more to discuss.

Sen. Van Hollen: Thank you.

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