Political Quotes

On the recordJanuary 28, 2019
I come to talk about the bill before us, S. 1. We have had multiple attempts to get onto this bill. I am hopeful that today will be that day. Venezuela Mr. President, I wanted to briefly, for just a moment, divert to a different topic on Venezuela that was in the news about an hour and a half ago. The administration announced additional measures. It has been covered in the press, largely as sanctions on the regime of Nicolas Maduro, the illegitimate usurper and head of the criminal syndicate that controls the security agencies in that country. While it most certainly is going to hurt him, I think it is important to point out that the more accurate way to describe it is that Venezuela sends about 500 billion barrels of crude oil a day to the United States to be refined. That belongs to the Venezuelan people. What has been happening is that U.S. refineries pay for it. It is about three-quarters of the cash generated by the state-run oil company. Then, Maduro and his cronies steal that money--not to build roads or feed people. They steal it to bribe and keep people loyal to him. If you are a high-ranking general in Venezuela, with the fancy uniforms and the stars and bars, in those pictures that you see--why are they loyal to Maduro? They are ``loyal'' to him because he keeps providing them access to corruption. One way is by pilfering and completely taking all that cash out of the state-run oil company. That ends today. What is going to be done now is that U.S.…
Said by
Marco Rubio
Republican · Florida

Share

More from Marco Rubio

Jul 22, 2026

And so we’re glad to be with you today and to reaffirm that relationship and our commitment to the U.S. and Philippines’ relationship.

state.gov
Jul 20, 2026

The only reason why the U.S. is conducting strikes is against assets of Iran that are being used to attack global commercial shipping.

washingtonexaminer.com
Jul 22, 2026

The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections.

state.gov
Jul 23, 2026

Iran is begging us, both directly and indirectly, let's do a deal, let's talk.

cbsnews.com

Other voices in this conversation