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The next is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Jan. 11, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Florida Republican congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, who joins us this morning from Miami. Congresswoman, welcome to Face the Nation.
REP. MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Thanks for the chance.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re certainly one of Maria Corina Machado’s prime allies in Congress. You have stated she is coming to Washington this week. President Trump stated possibly Tuesday, possibly Wednesday. Particulars nonetheless being labored out. Why is it vital for her to get in entrance of the President of the US, who’s backing Maduro’s quantity two as the present president of that nation?
REP. SALAZAR: Okay, properly, I do not assume that the President is de facto backing anybody that’s associated to the Maduro regime. However concentrating on Maria Corina Machado, she earned it. She was the one who put collectively this- she proved to the worldwide neighborhood that they, the opposition forces, had gained the election. She was in a position to by some means create the tallies and show to the Trump administration that they’d gained by 70 to 30. Do not forget that Maduro didn’t give her the chance to be the Presidential nominee as a result of he didn’t like her, as a result of he knew that he was going to lose in opposition to her. So she has earned it, and I’m positive that she may have an excellent, lengthy, stable dialog with the President. She is aware of the story higher than anyone. I used to be in contact together with her through the 16 months that she was hiding in a tunnel as a result of the Maduro forces had been searching for her to kill her. So, she’s earned it. So, I believe we’re going to welcome her in Congress, and I am positive that President Trump goes to be extremely, extremely happy with that assembly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You heard the Vitality Secretary right here say it may be- it may very well be years earlier than we get to a transition. The President did say democracy is one thing he hopes for in Venezuela. Does that imply that she ought to return, that the US ought to assure Maria Corina Machado’s safety to return? I imply, how can the opposition return for an election proper now?
REP. SALAZAR: Nicely, you already know, she was planning to go once we met in Oslo, when she acquired the Nobel Peace Prize, she was saying to everyone that she was prepared to return, when on January 3, we took Maduro out. They- I like what Secretary Rubio is expressing and the plan that we now have because the nation of stabilize, get better, and transition. I believe that if you concentrate on it, the Trump administration is making a blueprint, a brand new floor breaking, new mannequin for international coverage, when he- vis-a-vis the western hemisphere. So Maria Corina and the opposition forces fall in that three-planned format that we now have, that Rubio has created and Trump has blessed. So she is a part of the transition, and I’m positive that they may have the ability to reorganize themselves. She has a whole lot of hundreds of individuals in Caracas and in Venezuela that can assist us to place collectively this electoral system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I do know that you just help the Trump administration’s coverage, however Secretary of State Rubio actually, actually bristled once I requested him why they did not arrest the Minister of the Inside, Diosdado Cabello, who stays in energy. You have got been very, very clear in your statements that you just assume the US ought to arrest him. We went again and appeared, CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede reported in 2017 that Caballo had tried to assassinate Senator Rubio. Are you able to assist individuals perceive why maybe individuals in Florida ought to be involved or different People about this man remaining in command of safety forces?
REP. SALAZAR: Nicely, you already know, I do know that simply Diosdado might be worse than Maduro and worse than Delcy. They’re all Alibaba and the 40 Thieves. Let’s- do not make any- let’s ensure that, to your worldwide viewers, that- but- however I’m very reassured the truth that we now have taken the oil and the sources away from them. That Diosdado Cabello, who’s a thief, I repeat, doesn’t wish to fall into the place Maduro has fallen into, and they’ll cooperate. And by some means, as a result of we now have created this new kind of mannequin, that they may work with us, they don’t have their sources now they know that we will go into this restoration, and that- and that by some means they’re going to positively take part and work with the American forces. They know higher. And like I stated, that is spectacular what’s occurring, as a result of we now have not seen this earlier than in 250 years of historical past. And Diosdado, I repeat, is certainly somebody who was indicted. And one of many source- I’ve some sources that say that, that we weren’t in a position to find him, but it surely did- at this hour, I’d say that, that every part is de facto falling into place.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, he controls the prisons, and there are at the very least 5 People in these prisons–
REP. SALAZAR: — With Delcy. With Delcy. Delcy is the one who is de facto in control of the key police and the repressive equipment. And Diosdado Cabello was in control of the army, who was a part of the Solar’s cartel together with Maduro.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However have you learnt why the Trump administration is not publicly demanding the discharge of the People which can be being held?
REP. SALAZAR: Pay attention, maybe- possibly we have no idea some issues which can be occurring, and Rubio stated it the opposite day. I do perceive, and I’m positive, Rubio is aware of the realm very properly, and he is aware of who the characters are. And we’re positively taking this with- with stable in- a solid- with stable steps. We don’t wish to make any errors and- and I’m positive that the political prisoners will likely be popping out and that we- that we’re not giving them, which means Diosdado and Delcy, any kind of- of leeway for them to essentially run the nation. We are going to see. Prefer it happened- it occurred two, three weeks in the past. Let’s give them somewhat bit extra time earlier than we see extra outcomes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In a short time, the President tweeted at the moment, Cuba will get no more cash, no extra oil. The CIA evaluation is that that regime in Havana shouldn’t be essentially in peril, despite the fact that the President’s saying they’re. What are you listening to?
REP. SALAZAR: Nicely, look, I symbolize town of Miami, you already know, the guts of the Cuban exile neighborhood. And people phrases are like, magical. It has been 65 years. , Cuba is- can be a middle of energy for our enemies, Iran, Russia, China. And- and now I believe they are- they’re getting the memo. And Cuba, it’s- it is hanging by your risk, by a thread I ought to say. The risk that Cuba has represented to the US has been immense. They haven’t any water, they haven’t any electrical energy, they haven’t any meals. They don’t have anything. So when you assume that Maduro was weak. Cuba is even weaker, and now they don’t have one drop of oil coming from Venezuela. In order that may very well be the start of the tip.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, Mexico is stepping up and offering them some. We’ll should watch–
REP. SALAZAR: — And that may be a very huge mistake. A really huge mistake from Madame Sheibaum–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — what occurs subsequent. All proper. Thanks very a lot, Congresswoman. We’ll be again in a second.
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