Rubio:

Venezuela looks nothing like Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, or the Middle East — other than the Iranian agents running through there plotting against America.

These are Western countries. People need to stop ascribing apples to oranges.

Rubio on Venezuela:

This was not an action that required congressional approval... This was not an invasion or an extended military operation.

Rubio:

We will seek congressional approval for actions that require congressional approval.

Otherwise, they'll get congressional notification.

Rubio:

The Biden administration had a $25 million reward for Maduro’s capture.

So we have a reward for his capture, but we’re not going to enforce it? That’s the difference between President Trump and everybody else.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in 2019:

When we look throughout history, every time the United States goes into another country and topples a dictator or overthrows a government, the outcome has been disastrous for the people of those countries.

Pushing for the use of military force in this civil conflict will only result in more suffering, more death, and more disaster for the Venezuelan people.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene:

The majority of American fentanyl overdoses and deaths come from Mexico. It is Mexican cartels that are killing Americans.

If this was really about narco-terrorism and about protecting Americans from cartels and drugs being brought into the United States, then the Trump administration would be attacking the Mexican cartels.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene:

Americans also celebrated the “liberation” of the Iraqi people after Saddam Hussein. They celebrated the “liberation” of the Libyan people after Gaddafi.

This is the same Washington playbook that so many of us are sick and tired of—one that does not actually serve the American people, but instead serves big corporations, banks, and oil executives.

Venezuelan Defense Ministry:

The Bolivarian National Armed Force strongly rejects the cowardly kidnapping of citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander-in-Chief, and of his wife, the First Lady Dr. Cilia Flores de Maduro; an act carried out yesterday, Saturday, January 3 of the current year, after cold-bloodedly murdering a large part of his security team, soldiers, and innocent civilians.

We activate, across the entire national geographic space and in perfect civil-military-police fusion, the Full Operational Readiness, in order to ensure the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of the Nation.

WATCH: Heavily armed American forces transporting Venezuela's Maduro staged a show of force on New York streets with van doors open.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

Yesterday, they kidnapped the person that the people of Venezuela had elected as their President.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

The National Bolivarian Armed Forces demands the fast release of President Maduro and the First Lady.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

If today this happened against Venezuela, tomorrow it could happen against any state.

This represents a threat toward the global order.

U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez:

What's left of the Cartel of the Suns regime in Venezuela is bragging with fart-filled speeches — ignore them. It's pure theater.

Delcy, Jorge, Diosdado, and Padrino López know they don't have much time left.

Their fates could end up being much worse than those of Nicolás and Cilia.

Russia's Medvedev:

Team Trump is tough and cynical in advancing its country’s interests. Removing Maduro had nothing to do with drugs – only oil, and they openly admit this.

Lex fortissimum is clearly stronger than ordinary justice, but whether they can run Venezuela remotely is a big question.

Trump to the Atlantic:

If Delcy Rodríguez doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.

Trump to the Atlantic:

We do need Greenland, absolutely.

[Greenland is] surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.

We need it for defense.