Transcript: Sen. Mark Warner on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Dec. 14, 2025

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 army motion strain is virtuous and essential?

SEN. WARNER: Properly, initially, let me on the high of the show- we have got 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 bit of extra gentle as of late. Ms. Machado is a hero. She deserves to win the Nobel Prize. And one of many errors the Biden administration made final 12 months when the opposition candidates gained overwhelmingly, was not put extra strain on Maduro then to depart. 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 prepared to face up robust towards Putin, who might be essentially the most brutal authoritarian chief on the planet, as we go on and off with Ukraine. I believe is- sure, it might be nice to eliminate Maduro. However when it comes to the query, Donald Trump has not come to the American individuals and mentioned, 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 will clearly interdict, as we noticed with the oil tanker. I believe the President must make the case if he’ll 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. In contrast to different Democrats on the subject of the drug boats, you’ve got mentioned you are not able to name them struggle crimes, significantly what occurred on the September 2 double faucet strike. You have questioned Admiral Bradley. I do know you need the video launched to the general public. What do you suppose 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 concept of those two survivors hanging on to remnants of a ship after which America taking a collection of further strikes. The Congress must see it on the very minimal. I believe the American public must see it. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You have 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 struggle crime, you’ll be able to’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 mentioned 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 mentioned this. That is not typical, is it? Do not you usually provide you with the authorized justification earlier than you are taking the motion, quite 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 army 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 army, morale, how we’re seen on the planet. It is so vital. However this President has not- and albeit, Pete Hegseth, even worse. This is the man who goes out and brags in regards to the strikes till there’s controversy, after which he type of runs for the hills.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the President mentioned once more this week, and I am going to simply learn it to you that land strikes on Venezuela are being thought of. Land strikes on horrible individuals which might be bringing in medication and killing our individuals. It does not essentially should be in Venezuela. It is individuals which might be bringing in medication to our nation as targets. Have you ever seen any authorized justification to hit these individuals 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:– By way of 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 abruptly you are going to be in open warfare with all of American army towards any and all drug sellers? Once more, the drug sellers are terrible. We have to do all we will to cease them, however the President, when he places American forces probably in hurt’s manner, wants to return and clarify to American individuals what the purpose is right here.  Notably when he is then, on the identical breath, pardoning the previous president of Honduras, who was a convicted drug vendor.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  By way of designated terrorists, ISIS is a delegated terrorist group. We simply noticed the primary fight deaths, primarily, of the Trump administration yesterday. Three Individuals killed, three injured in Syria on this obvious ambush. The top of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle mentioned it was an insider assault. Are you supportive of retaining the practically 1,000 US troops in Syria. Do you’ve got 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 members of the family in sure prisons in that space.–  

MARGARET BRENNAN: — So, you need them to proceed?

SEN. WARNER: However the President- I believe pulling out and not using a plan can be a mistake, however the President, once more, has despatched indicators. Months in the past, he mentioned he is enthusiastic about taking all these American troopers out with out articulating his technique. I imply the President, if he desires to make the case to the American individuals 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, we’ve Senator Cassidy on this system. We taped with him earlier. He says he is on the lookout for fellow Democrats to affix him in a well being care deal by March, to make these well being financial savings accounts, and he mentioned 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 got a disaster that hits as of Monday, tomorrow, as a result of that is when individuals should 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 individuals do not go into Christmas pondering they are going to 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 a number of totally different efforts, however the concept that a one time $1,500 fee into your pocket goes to abruptly make up. I had an individual the opposite day. Her present insurance coverage is $544 a month. It will go as much as over $1,500 a month. A one time $1,500 fee shouldn’t be going to fulfill her wants, and significantly if that might 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, prolong the subsidies, after which let’s debate how we repair it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Now we have to depart it there. Thanks, Senator. We’ll be proper again.