Within a day of President Trump saying the US would "run" Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a more measured tone, describing U.S. involvement as directing the country's transition rather than permanent occupation. Rubio previewed narrowly targeted steps, including an oil export "quarantine," and will brief lawmakers twice on Wednesday about next moves. The White House frames Trump’s forceful rhetoric and Rubio’s diplomacy as complementary, but the mixed messaging has raised concern among allies and critics about clarity and long‑term plans.
Trump Declares U.S. Will “Run” Venezuela; Rubio Offers A Measured Roadmap
Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump declared the United States would "run" a post‑Maduro Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved to temper that language and present a more conventional diplomatic framework.
Rubio told Sunday audiences, "What we are 'running' is the direction" for Venezuela's future after US forces removed its leader. Later that evening Mr. Trump reiterated his blunt phrasing to reporters: "We're in charge." The exchange highlighted a sharp contrast in tone between an expansive, sometimes bombastic president and a more cautious chief diplomat.
Rubio's More Focused Approach
Where the president has signaled that the US will exercise control for a period, Rubio emphasized targeted, policy‑level steps. He previewed a potential "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil exports intended to pressure the country's new leadership to comply with Washington's demands and described Maduro's capture as a law‑enforcement operation, not a permanent occupation.
"He was a criminal, he was under indictment in the United States, this is a law enforcement operation," Sen. John Kennedy (R‑La.) told Semafor, summarizing Rubio's careful wording.
What Comes Next
Rubio is scheduled to face detailed questions during two private Hill briefings on Wednesday — his second and third appearances in 48 hours — as lawmakers press the administration for specifics on oil policy, the timing of elections, and engagement with interim leader Delcy Rodríguez.
The White House has assembled a core advisory group, including Rubio, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, to shape immediate plans. Top outstanding questions include who will control Venezuelan oil infrastructure, how and when elections might be held, and whether the US can engage effectively with Rodríguez.
Mixed Messaging And Political Calculus
Administration officials portray the president's forceful rhetoric and Rubio's cautious diplomacy as complementary: both pursue maximum leverage to halt illegal migration, curb drug trafficking, rehabilitate Venezuela's oil sector and protect the Venezuelan people. Still, critics warn that the differing tones risk confusing allies and adversaries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R‑S.C.) put it bluntly: "Trump wants to let everybody know he's in charge. I want everybody to hear we're in charge of Venezuela. That doesn't mean we're going to own it forever. It's not going to become a colony of the United States, but we're in charge." Other lawmakers said they listen closely to the president while relying on Rubio to translate vision into policy.
The administration's earlier decision to leave Maduro's vice president in place was influenced in part by U.S. intelligence assessments that Venezuela's opposition would struggle to govern effectively, The New York Times reported. That practical judgment reinforces the immediate diplomatic and logistical challenges facing Rubio and the White House as they define the next phase.
As the administration moves from rhetoric to implementation, Rubio's role as a methodical, policy‑focused interlocutor will be critical to providing clarity — even as President Trump's off‑the‑cuff declarations continue to shape public perception and the political debate.
Help us improve.
