In a tense exchange on ABC's "This Week," U.
S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed visible frustration with host George Stephanopoulos, who persistently questioned the legal basis for America's actions against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
According to WND, Stephanopoulos pressed Rubio on President Trump's remarks in Palm Beach, Florida, suggesting that the United States intended to take control of Venezuela. Rubio responded by emphasizing the strategic use of economic pressure, stating, "What's going to happen here is that we have a quarantine on their oil."
He explained that this measure would hinder Venezuela's economic progress until conditions favorable to both the United States and the Venezuelan populace were achieved.
Stephanopoulos, undeterred, reiterated his inquiry about the legal authority underpinning U.S. actions in Venezuela. Rubio clarified, "As far as what our legal authority on the quarantine, very simple, we have court orders." He argued that these court-sanctioned orders provided the necessary legal framework to intercept and seize sanctioned vessels.
The host further questioned whether the United States was effectively managing Venezuela. Rubio reiterated that the U.S. was leveraging its position to influence the country's direction, highlighting the strategic use of naval forces to enforce sanctions. "And that leverage we have with the armada of boats that are currently positioned allows us to seize any sanctioned boats," he elaborated, underscoring the operational aspect of the U.S. strategy.
Rubio maintained that the court orders were the legal foundation for these actions, asserting that they would remain in effect until Venezuela's leadership enacted changes beneficial to both nations. "The legal authority is the court orders we have," he concluded, reinforcing the legitimacy of the U.S. stance.
In a separate incident, as reported by WorldNetDaily, Rubio also engaged with CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan, further defending President Trump's decisive actions over the weekend concerning Maduro. This interaction highlighted Rubio's unwavering commitment to the administration's policies and his readiness to confront media scrutiny head-on.
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