"It means we set the terms. President Trump sets the terms, and he will ultimately decide what the iterations are of that, Hegseth told him. It means the drugs stop flowing, it means the oil that was taken from us is returned ultimately, and that criminals are not sent to the United States. It [means] foreign countries do not have a lodgment inside our hemisphere."
"So, Mr. Secretary, then by your words there, I imagine you are prepared for a full-scale U.S. intervention to stabilize the country of Venezuela, if asked for by the president, Dokoupil followed up. If that comes to pass, will you ask Congress for approval? Do you believe legally you need to ask Congress for approval?"
"This was a law enforcement exercise; it was the Department of War, in support of the Department of Justice, pulling out an indicted person who will ultimately face justice, Hegseth said. And Marco [Rubio] was clear there that this is not something you notify Congress about beforehand. He was referring to the secretary of state telling reporters the operation was not the kind of mission you can do a Congressional notification on."
A news interviewer pressed the Defense Secretary about U.S. plans after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, asking whether Americans would govern or station troops in Venezuela. The Defense Secretary said the United States would "set the terms," with President Trump deciding subsequent actions, and described goals such as stopping drug flows, reclaiming oil, preventing criminals from entering the U.S., and denying foreign footholds in the hemisphere. When asked about full-scale intervention and congressional approval, the Defense Secretary framed the action as a law-enforcement exercise supported by the Department of War and cited others saying prior congressional notification was not required. The President echoed that concern about notifying Congress, citing risk of leaks.
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