Marco Rubio was asked under what authority Trump would ‘run’ Venezuela and his answer (such as it was) is all you need to know

The Trump Administration operates with a “Bomb first, ask questions later” strategy. Well, the questions are here. But the answers are not.

Marco Rubio was tossed onto ABC News to cover for his boss, where the Secretary of State was asked about Trump’s promise that the US would ‘run’ Venezuela until a ‘safe, proper and judicious transition’ can be ensured.

Under whose authority would the US ‘run’ another country, host George Stephanopoulos quite rightly wondered.

And Rubio’s answer spoke volumes (in what it didn’t say).

Q: “Trump…said the U.S. is going to run Venezuela. Under what legal authority?”

Rubio: *doesn’t answer*

Q: “ Let me ask the question again, what is the legal authority for the United States to be running Venezuela?”

Rubio: *doesn’t answer* pic.twitter.com/SCK4hxmRqm

— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) January 4, 2026

Yes, he kept talking. But what did he actually say?

Nothing, really.

The non-answer revealed everything we already suspected about this whole operation. They are just making it up as they go along. And while everyone loves a good improv show, playing “Yes and…” with national security doesn’t feel like the best path towards world peace.

The internet was equally concerned.

1.

“Venezuela hasn’t been using the oil to benefit the people, it’s been using it to benefit a corrupt few.”

Said by Rubio without ANY hint of irony whatsoever.

— Stephen Ashton (@HighfieldAshton) January 4, 2026

2.

How does another nation’s courts have legal authority over another sovereign nation?
It doesn’t. https://t.co/EVDL5icaK2

— Andy Richardson (@Andy_Richardson) January 5, 2026

3.

No mention of the 40+ Venezuelans killed by the U.S. strikes, and millions of damage done to property?
That was an act of war, not a police operation.

— Cori_H (@Cori_H67) January 4, 2026

4.

When did America become the world’s landlord ? https://t.co/Jpz3FfykOz

— DavidRomero (@DavidRomer33962) January 4, 2026

5.

There isn’t one https://t.co/HB0lA0QXG9

— kay bee☮️ (@ptldmuse) January 4, 2026

6.

That 14-second pause from Rubio wasn’t contemplation, it was the exact moment he realized there’s zero legal basis for Trump’s Venezuela power grab.

— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) January 4, 2026

7.

Doesn’t answer because they have no authority. It’s an ILLEGAL OCCUPATION.

— Donna L. Byers Visual Artist/Author⚖ (@D_ByersArtist) January 4, 2026

8.

The Sunday shows, by design, are such a broken model. Guests know their time slots are limited so they can BS until time’s up. Host pretends to ask tough questions knowing a full answer will never be given.

— Michael Azevedo (@AzevedoMraz86) January 4, 2026