Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Maduro's capture shows Trump strayed from 'America First' agenda

Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that US taxpayer funds should target domestic issues, not foreign military actions in Caracas
PUBLISHED JAN 4, 2026
Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that 'America First' should mean serving voters and not the interests of wealthy contributors (NBC News/YouTube)
Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that 'America First' should mean serving voters and not the interests of wealthy contributors (NBC News/YouTube)


WASHINGTON, DC: Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on NBC News’s ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, January 4. Kristen Welker asked the Georgia representative about her statement regarding the US military strikes in Venezuela on X.

Greene had criticized the Trump administration for using taxpayer funds to address foreign affairs. In another post, she showed disapproval over Trump claiming that the US was “running” Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro’s capture.

MTG doubled down on her stance during her conversation with Welker, noting that if the strikes were about ending the supply of illegal substances, Donald Trump would have attacked Mexican cartels, which she claimed were responsible for over 70% of US overdose deaths.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. With early voting starting today in Georgia both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris are campaigning in the Atlanta region this week as polls show a tight race. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks before Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 15, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Trump admin didn’t prioritize America

During her appearance on ‘Meet the Press’, Marjorie Taylor Greene clarified that she was not against the capture of Nicolas Maduro or the liberation of the Venezuelan people.

She added that her pushback and criticism of the Trump administration was that America had seen a pattern in the past.

“Americans celebrated the liberation of the Iraqi people after S****m H*****n. They celebrated the liberation of the Libyan people after G****fi,” she said.

Greene added that it was the “same Washington playbook” that Americans were sick and tired of because it did not benefit Americans. She stated that the only entities that benefited from such situations were the big corporations, banks, and oil executives.

MTG explained that the MAGA campaign that Republicans backed meant putting America first. However, Trump’s actions did not reflect that.  

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JULY 5: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro arrives for the military parade as part of 214th anniversary of Venezuela's independence celebrations on July 5, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro arrives for the military parade as part of the 214th anniversary of Venezuela's independence celebrations on July 5, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Americans don't consider Venezuela their 'neighborhood'

Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that she wanted to see domestic policies that would serve Americans in terms of healthcare and affordability after Joe Biden’s “disastrous” term.

“These are issues that matter to Americans. We don’t consider Venezuela our neighborhood. Our neighborhood is right here in the 50 United States,” she added.

Kristen Welker asked Greene about her thoughts on Trump claiming that he would decide what “America first” meant.

The Georgia representative replied that the phrase “America first” should mean what was promised to voters during the 2024 campaign.

She added that her understanding of it was limited to serving the American people and not the “big donors” who donate to major politicians. 

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