Posted on 01/03/2026 4:12:41 PM PST by Navy Patriot
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s decision not to brief senior congressional leaders ahead of the U.S. strike in Venezuela, arguing that advance notice would have jeopardized the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking Saturday at a press conference carried by Newsmax, Rubio said the mission was "trigger-based," unfolding only when specific conditions were met after days of monitoring.
He said it was not the type of operation that allowed for advance congressional notification, stressing that the action was fundamentally a law-enforcement mission, the arrest of "two indicted fugitives of American justice," with the military supporting the Department of Justice.
Rubio acknowledged broader policy implications but said pre-notification would have endangered U.S. forces and the success of the mission.
Trump echoed that view, adding bluntly that Congress has "a tendency to leak," which he said could have produced "a very different result."
The comments came as multiple sources told ABC News that the so-called "Gang of Eight," the top Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, were not briefed before the operation began.
Such leaders are typically notified of highly sensitive national security actions.
Trump said Venezuelan forces were aware U.S. action was possible, citing the visible presence of U.S. ships in the region, but maintained that limiting advance disclosure was necessary to protect the mission and U.S. personnel.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Newsmax teased this article under the supposed title:
Trump: Gang of 8 Told Late for Operational Security
Awesome.
He’s right. The commies in the democrat party would have leaked and/or warned Maduro of what was coming.
Screw the democrats in congress.
I wouldn’t give Congress, especially democrats, the time of day!
If he done things differently, Maduro would be cozy in some hidey-hole after RATs and RINOs gave him the heads-up.
Trump had no choice.
GOOD CHOICE MR. PRESIDENT. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
I recall that demoncrats and RINOs were pissed about not being told that the US was going to bomb Iran nuke facilities too.
They can go pee up a rope.
Pocahontas is missing on this one too.
Not peep out of her.
Is she in prison????
He’s right, congressional leaks have gotten people killed in the past and enabled terrorists to avoid arrest.
If congress wants to be informed of these things then congress needs to punish leakers, not celebrate them.
It’s called OpSec.
Only inform on a need-to-know basis.
The New GOP under Trump has stopped trusting the Old GOP.
Wisdom!
The other party, and maybe some of the not other party, cannot be trusted when it comes to the lives of American servicemen. It says a lot and it is not a good thing to have to say.
Doesn’t he have a really valid point?
What in the universe could possibly be gained by notifying Congress ahead of time???
Trump & Crew were absolutely correct in not giving them a heads up.
I am so impressed by this operation. My lil straw farm hat is off to everyone involved. Great job!
Was notice given to Congress when -
Obama attack Libya?
Biden attacked Syria?
Schumer, Jeffries, and Warner would have gone on CNN and spilled the operation.
We all know that little adam schiff can be trusted. Sealed lips.
Many in congress (and deep state) are traitors and subversives. They take money from the drug cartels and are in fact subordinate to the foreign overlords.
I despise them all and wish they were thrown into an active volcano. Trump has three years to make my wish come true.
Who in his right mind would tell the squad or Bernie and their ilk anything that’s supposed to be secret?
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