Read our Privacy noticeSecretary of State Marco Rubio walked back U.S. military threats in Venezuela in his testimony to senators about the Trump administration’s next steps in the country after the capture of its longtime leader Nicolas Maduro. It was also the first hearing after a lethal U.S. military operation to capture Maduro, the culmination of President Donald Trump’s months-long pressure campaign to topple the autocrat’s government and “run” Venezuela with oil companies in tow. “I can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time,” Rubio said Wednesday. “The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy.”open image in gallery Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Wednesday, denied that the Trump administration will take imminent military action in Venezuela after ousting leader Nicolas Maduro ( Getty )Democratic Senator Chris Murphy pressed Rubio on whether the administration would seek congressional authorization to “compel cooperation” over oil sales at the center of the U.S. occupation in Venezuela. He said the Trump administration has also offered up a “short-term mechanism” to support basic Venezuelan government services, but Rubio refused to commit to a timeline for a democratic transition.