5:03Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene makes an appearance on “The View,” on January 7, 2026.ABC News
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., during her initial interview since stepping down from Congress, which became effective Monday, expressed on ABC’s "The View" on Wednesday that she is opposed to the Trump administration’s focus on capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and believes that attention should be directed toward other nations that are significant contributors to the influx of drugs into the U.S.
Greene remarked that, during her tenure on the House Homeland Security Committee, "Venezuela was never a topic of discussion" in relation to drug trafficking and emphasized that "you cannot hold Maduro accountable without also holding Mexican cartels accountable, who are the primary offenders."
The Trump administration has claimed it is taking measures to curb the drug flow from several countries, including Mexico. On Sunday, Trump warned that Colombia might face a fate similar to that of Venezuela and stated that Cuba was on the verge of collapse. He also indicated that Mexico could be next as the administration aims to persist in its fight against drug cartels.
The former congresswoman, who has previously challenged various U.S. foreign policy initiatives, asserted that she remains committed to the "America First" ideology, which she believes is incompatible with military intervention in Venezuela.
"We campaigned, and I attended numerous Trump rallies, standing on stage with the president and alongside other Republican candidates, proclaiming ‘America First. No more regime change, no more foreign wars, no more foreign intervention.’ Enough of this. That is the essence of America First," she stated.
"Militarily invading a nation, resulting in casualties, arresting their leader and removing them, while claiming it’s for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, and asserting that the accusations revolve around drugs, yet then continually emphasizing that Venezuelan oil rightfully belongs to America … it’s ineffective."
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appears on “The View,” on January 7, 2026.ABC News
Greene further stated that a "more profound issue" regarding U.S. actions in Venezuela is that "if it’s acceptable to enter Venezuela and detain Maduro, then why are we telling China it can’t go and seize Taiwan? Why are we informing Russia that it can’t take Ukraine?"
Greene, who was first elected to the House in 2020, had positioned herself as one of President Donald Trump's most loyal supporters and a fervent advocate of the MAGA movement he led. Greene became a defining figure of the MAGA movement on Capitol Hill, opposing Trump’s second impeachment following the January 6 Capitol riot and donning a "Make America Great Again" hat at then-President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in 2024.
However, she has recently distanced herself from Trump on matters such as the Israel-Hamas conflict and the release of documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump rescinded his support for Greene in November after she criticized him and his administration’s handling of the Epstein investigation, among other issues.
Greene announced that she would resign from the House that month, delivering a shocking revelation shortly after being one of the few Republicans to endorse a discharge petition that mandated a vote to compel the Department of Justice to release the files. Her departure before her term’s conclusion results in House Republicans facing an even slimmer majority — with 218 Republicans compared to 213 Democrats as of Wednesday, following Greene’s resignation and the passing of GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California on Tuesday.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appears on “The View,” on January 7, 2026.ABC News
Greene disclosed on Wednesday that her final choice to leave Congress was influenced by Trump labeling her a "traitor" and shortly thereafter, her son began receiving death threats. She mentioned that she had previously encountered threats and had become accustomed to them.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com