{"id":2529546,"date":"2026-01-04T12:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cotton-says-us-military-presence-in-venezuela-always-an-option-after-maduro-ouster\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T12:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:29:10","slug":"cotton-says-us-military-presence-in-venezuela-always-an-option-after-maduro-ouster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cotton-says-us-military-presence-in-venezuela-always-an-option-after-maduro-ouster\/","title":{"rendered":"Cotton says US military presence in Venezuela &#8216;always an option&#8217; after Maduro ouster"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcotton-says-us-military-presence-in-venezuela-always-an-option-after-maduro-ouster%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2529546&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton said the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/worker-showing-video-of-military-checkpoints-in-dc-if-you-need-all-this-to-protect-your-inauguration-from-the-people-maybe-the-people-didnt-elect-you\/\" title=\"Worker Showing Video of ... Checkpoints in DC: \u201cIf You Need All This To Protect Your Inauguration from the People, Maybe the $%*&amp; People Didn\u2019t $%*&amp; Elect You!\u201d\">military presence<\/a> in Venezuela is &#8220;always an option&#8221; after the capture and removal of former president Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, citing U.S. citizens and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-considers-reinstating-burma-sanctions-axed-by-top-asia-adviser\/\" title=\"Biden Considers Reinstating Burma Sanctions Axed by Top Asia Adviser\">economic interests<\/a> in the contry. His remarks followed President Trump&#8217;s statement that the United States woudl &#8220;run&#8221; Venezuela until a &#8220;safe, proper, and judicious transition&#8221; could occur; Cotton interpreted that as pressure on Venezuela&#8217;s new leaders to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-people-killed-in-latest-military-strike-against-narco-terrorists-in-caribbean\/\" title=\"Three people killed in latest ... strike against \u2018narco-terrorists\u2019 in Caribbean\u00a0\">stop trafficking drugs<\/a> and weapons and to meet U.S. demands. Venezuela&#8217;s Supreme Court named Vice President delcy Rodr\u00edguez <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">interim president<\/a> after Maduro&#8217;s capture, and Maduro was taken to the Metropolitan Detention center in New York. Cotton and other Republicans praised the capture, while War secretary Pete Hegseth said the administration&#8217;s focus will remain on cracking down on drug trafficking and illegal immigration, though he gave few operational details.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Cotton says US military presence in Venezuela &lsquo;always an option&rsquo; after Maduro ouster<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2462593\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) expressed some openness to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/courage-strength-optimism\/4400939\/the-militarys-staggering-competence-under-trump\/\">U.S. military<\/a> having a presence in Venezuela following the ouster of its former president, saying there are &ldquo;many American interests&rdquo; in the South American country.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4399895\/unheralded-aides-keeping-trump-white-house-running\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> said Saturday that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4400674\/us-to-run-venezuela-until-transition-can-take-place\/\">the United States will &ldquo;run&rdquo; Venezuela<\/a> following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro, saying this will be done until &ldquo;we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.&rdquo; Cotton interpreted Trump&rsquo;s statement as the president saying Venezuela&rsquo;s new leaders &ldquo;need to meet our demands&rdquo; and for Venezuela to stop trafficking drugs and weapons and &ldquo;return to the civilized world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4400877\/schumer-presses-republicans-critical-of-venezuela-attack-pull-back-military-powers\/\">Schumer presses Republicans critical of Venezuela attack to pull back White House military powers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4355256\/kamala-harris-history-most-senate-tiebreaking-votes-vice-president\/\">When vice presidents are frozen in marble<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4375358\/longtime-gop-senator-jon-kyl-announces-dementia-diagnosis\/\">Longtime GOP Sen. Jon Kyl announces dementia diagnosis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400728\/venezuelans-pour-into-streets-to-celebrate-maduro-fall\/\">VENEZUELANS POUR INTO STREETS TO CELEBRATE MADURO&rsquo;S FALL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cotton also said the U.S. military being in Venezuela is &ldquo;always an option,&rdquo; saying there are U.S. citizens and &ldquo;American interests&rdquo; in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have many U.S. citizens and many American interests, and again, Venezuela owes many billions of dollars to American companies for their past seizure of American property in that country,&rdquo; Cotton said on CNN&rsquo;s <em>State of the Union<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3302648&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=16732a4f99ab1850e255bc7af0dd0b60\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Venezuela&rsquo;s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400937\/court-orders-venezuela-vice-president-as-interim-president\/\">take over as interim president following Maduro&rsquo;s capture<\/a>. Cotton said the U.S. wants the Venezuelan government to be &ldquo;pro-American&rdquo; and contribute to &ldquo;stability&rdquo; as a country in close proximity to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4400798\/this-wasnt-an-arrest-in-venezuela-this-was-an-unauthorized-regime-change-war\/\"><strong>TIMOTHY P. CARNEY: THIS WASN&rsquo;T AN ARREST IN VENEZUELA. THIS WAS AN UNAUTHORIZED REGIME-CHANGE WAR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maduro arrived in New York City <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400902\/maduro-arrives-new-york-city-after-capture\/\">at the Metropolitan Detention Center on Saturday night<\/a>. Like other Republican lawmakers, Cotton celebrated Maduro&rsquo;s capture as &ldquo;a great day for America&rdquo; and said he is glad Maduro is in jail.<\/p>\n<p>War Secretary Pete Hegseth has not provided exact details about Trump&rsquo;s statement that the U.S. will &ldquo;run&rdquo; Venezuela, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4400940\/hegseth-trump-sets-terms-venezuela-future\/\">saying Trump &ldquo;set the terms&rdquo; for the country<\/a>. However, he did say the next steps will see the Trump administration&rsquo;s crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal immigration in Venezuela continue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cotton: U.S. troops in Venezuela &#8216;always an option<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2529547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25338657075537-e1767544991603.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[70105,33439,44538,32405,50813],"class_list":["post-2529546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-maduro-ouster","tag-military-intervention","tag-tom-cotton","tag-united-states","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25338657075537-e1767544991603.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2529546"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2529550,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529546\/revisions\/2529550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2529547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2529546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2529546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2529546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}