Rubio defends Venezuela operation after NBC questions lack of congressional approval for Maduro capture

"White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that an attack on Venezuela's mainland would require approval from Congress," Welker told Rubio on "Meet the Press." "Why didn't that happen? And will it happen with any future action the administration plans to take in Venezuela or elsewhere?"

Rubio also said they couldn't afford any potential leaks.

"You couldn't afford leaks. We couldn't afford anything out there that would have endangered the mission and gotten people killed, or killed off the mission in the optionality. We didn't even know if the mission was going to happen. How can you notify something you're not even sure if it can happen? Because in order for it to happen, you had needed to have weather conditions in place," he added.

Trump framed the role as temporary but necessary, saying the U.S. does not want to allow "somebody else get in" before conditions are stable. He said the goal is peace, liberty and justice for Venezuelans, including those who have fled to the United States and hope to return home.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump said.