January 28, 2026 | Sundance

Delaware Senator Chris Coons questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the Trump administration’s refusal to consult the Senate in advance about national security operations using the U.S. military. Specifically, Senator Coons expressed his anger about not being informed in advance of the operation to capture Nicholas Maduro.

Secretary of State Rubio reminded Senator Coons that operational security, and the desire to protect U.S. military servicemen, precluded the administration from permitting the Senate to warn Maduro of the pending operation. Senator Chris Coons then counters by saying, “The Gang of Eight has never leaked, it is critical you consult with Congress.” This is a false statement by Chris Coons, who has never been a ‘Gang of Eight’ member.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner was Vice-Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and a Gang of Eight member, when he directed SSCI Security Director James Wolfe to leak a top-secret classified document (Title-1 warrant) to the media on March 17, 2017. The Gang of Eight does leak to the media, and Secretary Rubio should know. Secretary Rubio was also a member of the Gang of Eight as SSCI Vice-Chair.

The entire testimony by Secretary Marco Rubio is exceptional. You can even tell from the moderate responses from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that they were/are completely outmatched by Rubio.

Despite the background of Rubio, working against many of MAGA’s interests (2010 – 2024), I have never seen a more articulate Secretary of State with complete command of every granular aspect to U.S. foreign operations. The MAGA-Rubio is perhaps the most skilled and articulate voice we have ever seen on our side.

This is the same Marco Rubio who came out of the Florida Senate, supported Jeb Bush, worked for immigration amnesty, supported TPP, supported fast track TPA, supported TTIP, supported the Libya intervention model, worked against tariffs and traveled the world with Senator John McCain. In full honest review, Marco Rubio was to John McCain what John Thune was to Mitch McConnell.

I really hope someone can eventually ask Rubio what happened during his ‘¹road to Damascus’ moment? What, specifically, is behind this transformation? Someone needs to ask.

Check out the look of defeat on the face of Senator Chris Coons (below) when Secretary of State Marco Rubio was finished with him. Incredible.

¹Saul, originally a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, became Paul after a transformative encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, which led him to become a devoted follower and missionary of Christianity. This event is often referred to as his conversion and marks a significant turning point in his life and the spread of the Christian faith.

video at

theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/01/28/rubio-testimony-senator-chris-coons-d-angered-trump-administration-did-not-give-senate-opportunity-to-leak-maduro-capture-operation/#more-280192