The next is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Dec. 14, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re now joined by the highest Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner of Virginia. Senator, had been you persuaded there by Maria Corina Machado’s argument that navy motion stress is virtuous and essential?
SEN. WARNER: Properly, initially, let me on the high of the show- we have this tragic taking pictures at Brown College, after which this clearly political strike towards the Jewish group in Australia. Each horrible and significantly on the primary day of Hanukkah, which is a celebration of sunshine over darkness. And boy, we may use a little bit extra gentle lately. Ms. Machado is a hero. She deserves to win the Nobel Prize. And one of many errors the Biden administration made final yr when the opposition candidates gained overwhelmingly, was not put extra stress on Maduro then to go away. However the motion now that Trump has chosen Maduro, who’s a foul man and saying, and I am unsure what his coverage is, however at the exact same time, is pardoning, for instance, a Honduran former president who was convicted in America of drug working. The president who has not been keen to face up sturdy towards Putin, who might be essentially the most brutal authoritarian chief on this planet, as we go on and off with Ukraine. I believe is- sure, it might be nice to do away with Maduro. However when it comes to the query, Donald Trump has not come to the American folks and stated, listed here are our objectives in Venezuela. We have troops probably in hurt’s manner. We have boat actions, for instance, the place we’re blowing up boats, the place we are able to clearly interdict, as we noticed with the oil tanker. I believe the President must make the case if he will attempt to put boots on the bottom in Venezuela.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, at this level, all they’ve, as I perceive it, requested for and justified to Congress had been these strikes on the alleged drug boats. Nothing with sovereign territory but. However that will get to your argument about what’s the finish purpose. Not like different Democrats in terms of the drug boats, you’ve got stated you are not able to name them warfare crimes, significantly what occurred on the September 2 double faucet strike. You’ve got questioned Admiral Bradley. I do know you need the video launched to the general public. What do you assume that is going to indicate to the general public? What is going to that change?
SEN. WARNER: I believe the video is chilling, disturbing, no matter time period you need to use–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Why?
SEN. WARNER: As a result of the thought of those two survivors hanging on to remnants of a ship after which America taking a sequence of further strikes. The Congress must see it on the very minimal. I believe the American public must see it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got seen it?
SEN. WARNER: I’ve seen it–
MARGARET BRENNAN:–Solely a restricted quantity have–
SEN. WARNER:– It’s terribly chilling. What I am saying is, when you make the accusation of warfare crime, you may’t take that again, proper? And so what I’ve said–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– However lots of your Democrat colleagues have.
SEN. WARNER: — I do know that. That is why I’ve stated to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, I need to see the written execution order. I need to see the authorized opinion that was about this particular strike. I need to know whether or not the overarching coverage memorandum, which was not completed till September 5, three days after the strike, was modified.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I noticed you stated this. That is not typical, is it? Do not you usually provide you with the authorized justification earlier than you are taking the motion, slightly than three days after?
SEN. WARNER: That is the place I’ve a query. The justification was made in late July. They did not write it down until September 5.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Why?
SEN. WARNER: I haven’t got the reply. I additionally need to see the after-action report. I need to give the navy each alternative to make their case, as a result of as soon as you- again- when you make that declare, what it might do to how we view our navy, morale, how we’re considered on this planet. It is so vital. However this President has not- and admittedly, Pete Hegseth, even worse. Here is the man who goes out and brags in regards to the strikes till there’s controversy, after which he sort of runs for the hills.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the President stated once more this week, and I will simply learn it to you that land strikes on Venezuela are being thought-about. Land strikes on horrible folks which are bringing in medicine and killing our folks. It would not essentially must be in Venezuela. It is folks which are bringing in medicine to our nation as targets. Have you ever seen any authorized justification to hit these folks now designated as terrorists on sovereign territory, whether or not it is Mexico or Colombia or Venezuela?
SEN. WARNER: The overwhelming majority of the drug particularly- that is all cocaine. This isn’t fentanyl. The huge majority–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– When it comes to the drug boats–
SEN. WARNER: — The overwhelming majority is definitely within the jap Pacific, but a lot of the strikes have been within the Caribbean. And is- this imply that out of the blue you are going to be in open warfare with all of American navy towards any and all drug sellers? Once more, the drug sellers are terrible. We have to do all we are able to to cease them, however the President, when he places American forces probably in hurt’s manner, wants to return and clarify to American folks what the purpose is right here. Significantly when he is then, on the identical breath, pardoning the previous president of Honduras, who was a convicted drug seller.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When it comes to designated terrorists, ISIS is a chosen terrorist group. We simply noticed the primary fight deaths, basically, of the Trump administration yesterday. Three Individuals killed, three injured in Syria on this obvious ambush. The top of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Heart stated it was an insider assault. Are you supportive of holding the practically 1,000 US troops in Syria. Do you will have issues that the Syrian Authorities is not capable of maintain these infiltrators out?
SEN. WARNER: To start with, condolences to the three Individuals households, Armed Forces members, one an interpreter. I believe our troops have performed an vital position. We’re working carefully with, for instance, the Kurds. Now we have actually tens of hundreds of ISIS relations in sure prisons in that space.–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — So, you need them to proceed?
SEN. WARNER: However the President- I believe pulling out with out a plan can be a mistake, however the President, once more, has despatched indicators. Months in the past, he stated he is desirous about taking all these American troopers out with out articulating his technique. I imply the President, if he needs to make the case to the American folks of when our troopers are in hurt’s manner, and significantly after we’re speaking in regards to the Caribbean and now potential Venezuela. This has not been an in a single day. This buildup of pressure has been months. He owes it to all of us to return in and clarify what his purpose is.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Domestically, now we have Senator Cassidy on this system. We taped with him earlier. He says he is in search of fellow Democrats to affix him in a well being care deal by March, to make these well being financial savings accounts, and he stated he’ll provide to increase the present subsidies for healthcare premiums. Would you be on board with that?
SEN. WARNER: To start with, we have a disaster that hits as of Monday, tomorrow, as a result of that is when folks must signal up–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — He says retroactively you are able to do it.
SEN. WARNER: Properly, pay attention, it is a mess as soon as you’ve got signed up otherwise you’ve dropped out of the system. You realize, the concept that you are retroactively going to repair it. Repair it now, so folks do not go into Christmas considering they will not know if they will have the ability to afford healthcare. And the notion- however the notion of what- Invoice Cassidy is an effective man. I’ve labored with him in lots of completely different efforts, however the concept that a one time $1,500 cost into your pocket goes to out of the blue make up. I had an individual the opposite day. Her present insurance coverage is $544 a month. It’s going to go as much as over $1,500 a month. A one time $1,500 cost isn’t going to fulfill her wants, and significantly if that will imply that issues like pre-existing situation protections would disappear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That sounds such as you’re not- not on board in these remaining days of 2025 Senator, I’ve to–
SEN. WARNER: — Repair the disaster proper now, lengthen the subsidies, after which let’s debate how we repair it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now we have to go away it there. Thanks, Senator. We’ll be proper again.
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