RM Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Trump’s Venezuelan Military Intervention and Oil Seizure

Key Points:

• Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly challenged President Trump’s military action in Venezuela, questioning its alignment with the “America First” ideals.
• U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during airstrikes, while Trump announced plans to seize control of the country’s oil reserves.
• Greene emphasized the importance of domestic policies, particularly focusing on Mexican cartels as the main source of fentanyl deaths, rather than the narcoterrorism narrative in Venezuela.

On January 4, 2026, in her final hours as a U.S. Representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., delivered a sharp criticism of President Donald Trump’s controversial military intervention in Venezuela. The operation, which involved U.S. forces bombing Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and seizing control of Venezuela’s extensive oil reserves, has stirred significant political debate.

Greene appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press just before leaving Congress, voicing strong opposition to the military action. “I’m not defending Maduro, and I’m glad to see the Venezuelan people freed,” Greene remarked, adding, “But this is the same Washington playbook we’ve seen in Iraq and Libya. The people cheered for the liberation of those countries, but it didn’t serve Americans in the long run.”

The attack on Caracas took place in the early hours of January 3, and by that afternoon, President Trump confirmed that the U.S. would temporarily take control of Venezuela, particularly its vast oil reserves. Trump justified the intervention by framing it as a necessary step to enhance American security and energy independence, saying, “We need this for ourselves, and we need this for the world. It’s critical for regional stability.”

For Greene, however, this military operation contradicted the principles that had fueled Trump’s initial rise, particularly his “America First” agenda. “I thought the Trump administration was about putting America first,” Greene said, clearly disappointed. “But this just shows how out of touch Washington is. Our focus should be on domestic issues, not interventions in far-off countries.”

Greene’s remarks came after her public breakup with Trump, which had been building for months. She resigned from Congress in November 2025, citing differences over issues like the release of the Epstein files, Obamacare, and unmet campaign promises. “Trump’s priority should’ve been domestic policy—helping Americans,” she had stated in a 60 Minutes interview. “Instead, it wasn’t.”

Greene also took to social media to express her frustration. “Americans are justified in their disgust with constant military interventions,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We voted for an end to endless foreign wars, but look where we are.”

One of the key points of Greene’s critique was the Trump administration’s rationale for the intervention—narcoterrorism. “If this was really about protecting Americans from drugs, why aren’t we focusing on the Mexican cartels?” Greene asked. “The majority of fentanyl deaths in this country come from Mexico. It’s the Mexican cartels that are killing Americans, not Maduro.” Her argument resonated with many who believe U.S. foreign policy often prioritizes distant conflicts over pressing domestic issues.

While Trump maintained that the intervention was a necessary part of securing American energy resources and regional stability, Greene was adamant that the American people’s priorities should come first. “We need to focus on jobs, healthcare, housing—issues that directly impact Americans. That’s what the people care about,” she reiterated on NBC.

Greene also expressed concern over the influence of corporations in shaping U.S. foreign policy. She accused the Trump administration of serving the interests of oil executives, banks, and large corporations rather than the American public. “This isn’t about helping everyday Americans. This is about serving big business interests,” she said, highlighting a sentiment that has been echoed by critics across the political spectrum.

Despite her opposition to the military action, Greene did express some relief at the removal of Maduro from power, acknowledging that it was a positive step for the people of Venezuela. However, she emphasized that the method of intervention was deeply flawed, especially from an “America First” perspective. “Our focus should always be on our own country,” Greene said. “Not in the Southern Hemisphere, but right here in the 50 states.”

As Greene prepares to leave Congress, her critical stance on Trump’s foreign policy raises fundamental questions about the future direction of the Republican Party. Is “America First” about disengaging from global conflicts and concentrating on domestic issues, or does it require a more aggressive stance abroad to secure U.S. interests? Greene’s comments suggest the former, but Trump’s supporters believe the latter approach is necessary to protect America’s role in the world.

The coming months will reveal whether Greene’s warnings resonate with voters or if Trump’s vision for American power abroad will continue to dominate Republican politics. Regardless, the military actions in Venezuela have already left a significant impact on the national conversation and will likely continue to influence debates in Washington and beyond.

Greene’s departure from Congress may mark the end of her political career, but her critiques of U.S. foreign policy will likely continue to spark discussions on what true “America First” policies should look like in the future.