Senator Schmitt Applauds Successful Mission in Venezuela

Praises President Trump’s Realist Foreign Policy Approach

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) joined Fox News’ America Reports to discuss the successful operation in Venezuela to capture and bring narcoterrorist Nicolas Maduro before the American justice system and praise President Trump’s realist foreign policy approach.

Watch the full interview HERE

Senator Schmitt on the Highly Successful Operation in Venezuela:

“I do, and I think it’s important to mention what an incredible operation this was. The United States of America is the only country in the world who could have pulled this off. And by the way, it’s worth mentioning that other countries, including China, who had a delegation actually in Venezuela at the time, they take notice of that as well. So, for a broader deterrent effect, I think that’s incredibly important. But, you know, [Maduro] was removed, an incredible job by our military, in just like three hours. I think that’s pretty exquisite. As far as what the concern is now, it’s about stability, and I think that’s the chief focus of President Trump. If this was something other than [a law enforcement operation], like toppling a regime, or regime change, you would have seen a much different military posture, and the entire government would have been top of it. This is one person in a law enforcement action that was removed and will stand trial now in New York. The Vice President [Delcy Rodriguez] — in the continuity of government — has been sworn in in Venezuela, and they’re going to move forward. So again, this is the appropriate application of power. This is a kind of a throwback to a Jacksonian worldview that President Trump has. This is the Monroe Doctrine in action. We care very deeply about what happens in our hemisphere. We’re not going to allow some tin-pot dictator to send criminals or open up their jails to the United States, poison through drugs into our country, and host a playground for adversaries like China to set up shop so close to home. This is about protecting our backyard and removing a terrible guy who has, you know, been indicted and now will stand trial in the United States.”

—

“We have very important leverage there. I mean, that naval quarantine still exists on currently sanctioned oil. And again, what’s really interesting about this is, Joe Biden had a $25 million reward for the arrest of [Maduro]. We had sanctions in place. They just were never enforced. And so, you see a President now who means what he says. The world is watching that we have this stable quarantine of the oil. China can’t get it through shadow fleets right now. This is a very important leverage we have to make sure that our interests are protected in the Western Hemisphere and specifically Venezuela.”

—

“[…] Look, I wish as a country, as an American, we could celebrate at least, maybe for a day. There’s a lot that divides us, but this is a pretty incredible mission that our military pulled off in this law enforcement action. It’s pretty remarkable, and we don’t have to worry about this dictator sending criminals and drugs into our country anymore. So, I think it’s an important accomplishment. President Trump has his finger on the pulse, I think, not just with the American people, but the appropriate role the United States has in kind of removing ourselves from this wandering foreign policy that we’ve seen over the last 30 years or so — and what are our core national interests. Getting back to the Monroe Doctrine that has been a part of American foreign policy for a very, very long time.”

—

“That’s right, but I think, John, this is what happens when you have authentic leadership. The American people have wanted this real leadership for such a long time. And for four years, we had a president who was sort of out to lunch, a wide-open border, completely out of touch with the needs of the American people. President Trump is delivering that safety, security, close the border, protect our backyard. That kind of leadership is infectious and brings people together, which is a great thing.”

###