Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) used a CNN interview on her final day in Congress to criticize the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela, arguing that U.S. leaders should focus on problems at home rather than stepping into another country’s governance.
In a conversation with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Greene addressed the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the larger question of American involvement in shaping Venezuela’s political future. President Trump has suggested the United States might temporarily “run” Venezuela after Maduro’s removal — an idea Greene said she does not support.
Greene said she was glad Maduro was ousted, but warned that taking responsibility for running another nation would clash with the “America First” agenda she backed. “America First is what matters most, and the American people matter most,” she said, stressing that voters elected U.S. officials to tackle domestic priorities, not to govern abroad.
She argued that Venezuela’s next steps should be decided by Venezuelans themselves. “Venezuela belongs to the Venezuelan people, and they should elect their own government leaders,” Greene said. She added that the administration should put issues like healthcare, jobs, and the national debt ahead of foreign policy efforts that could pull the country into prolonged involvement overseas.
“We very much need our government and our government leaders to focus on the American people and the issues that we care about on Main Street, USA,” Greene told Collins.
Her comments mirror a broader strain of criticism among some Republicans who question overseas intervention, with Greene pointing to past regime-change efforts as expensive and often out of step with what many voters want from Washington.
