Marco Rubio's about to face his old colleagues.
Just two weeks ago, five Republicans broke ranks to strip Trump's Venezuela authority — and Rubio had to make frantic backroom deals to kill it.
Now he's testifying before those same Senators next week, and Democrats smell blood.
Trump Dodged A Bullet When Rubio Saved Him
Rubio is scheduled to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 28 at 10 a.m. to testify on Venezuela policy.
The hearing comes after Tim Kaine's war powers resolution came within a heartbeat of passing earlier this month.
Five Republicans — Josh Hawley, Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Rand Paul — voted with Democrats on January 8 to advance a measure blocking Trump from further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.
Some of their reasons were based in principles, some political, and, in the case Murkowski and Collins likely just out of spite for Trump.
The procedural vote was 52-47, a stunning rebuke that sent shockwaves through the White House.
Trump went after those who defied him, posting about it on Truth Social.
Then Rubio went to work behind the scenes, making phone calls and writing letters promising Congress would get a say before "major military operations" in Venezuela.
The pressure campaign worked, flipping Hawley and Young, whose opposition seemed more for a political advantage than anything else, after Rubio assured them there were no ground troops in Venezuela and pledged to testify publicly.
When the final vote came on January 14, Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to kill the resolution 50-50.
Rubio Bought Trump Time With One Big Promise
Rubio's letter to Todd Young the day of the vote spelled out the administration's position.
Trump would "seek congressional authorization in advance (circumstances permitting)" before introducing U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities in major military operations in Venezuela.
Young called those assurances "fairly extensive personal" commitments that changed his mind.
Hawley said Rubio told him directly there were "absolutely no plans or intentions of occupying Venezuela" and promised to "follow the Constitution and statutes" if things changed.
The other part of the deal? Rubio agreeing to testify before the Foreign Relations Committee later this month.
That hearing is now set for January 28.
Rubio also wrote to Committee Chair James Risch spelling out that the administration would keep Congress in the loop on future military actions.
The operation to capture Nicolas Maduro on January 3 killed as many as 80 people in Venezuela and injured two U.S. service members.
The President said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily, but a huge swath of Republicans worried about mission creep and putting boots on the ground without congressional authorization.
Rubio's testimony gives them a chance to pin him down on exactly what Trump's endgame looks like.
And if the administration changes course or expands the mission before then, Rubio's January 28 appearance could turn into a grilling session he won't forget.
Sources:
- Alex Miller, "Secretary Rubio scheduled to face former colleagues on Venezuela policy," Fox News, January 21, 2026.
- "Senate advances measure to restrict Trump's power to use military force in Venezuela," NBC News, January 8, 2026.
- "Senate votes to curb military action in Venezuela in rare Trump rebuke," Axios, January 8, 2026.
- "Two Republicans flip, defeating war powers resolution after intense Trump pressure," The Hill, January 14, 2026.
- "Kaine vows more Trump war powers fights after Venezuela defeat in Senate," Fox News, January 19, 2026.
