Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, praised what he called a "limited operation" that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and said the action "protected the homeland of The United States." He thanked President Trump and named officials for conducting the mission while accounting for risks to U.S. forces and law enforcement.

Mast told interviewers the operation "severed" ties between Venezuela and strategic partners including China, Russia, Iran and Cuba, arguing that doing so would reduce adversarial influence in Latin America. "You protected the homeland of The United States," he said, adding that the team "took into account all of the risks" and calculated potential outcomes before acting.

An unidentified participant cautioned that "Congress has a tendency to leak," a point Mast echoed, saying there were "very specific threats for leaking that were thwarted in advance of this operation." He warned leaks can endanger personnel and families and said operational security was central to planning.

Asked by reporter Rich Edson about the prospects for post-operation transition and whether U.S. officials had local partners, Mast said it may be tactically wise to retain some officials who "knew where the keys were" so institutions continue to function while the United States severs ties with adversary states. He mentioned ongoing conversations involving "Machado and Rodriguez" as part of discussions over Venezuela's future.

When asked to assess the operation in light of his own military experience — he was introduced during the interview as having served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician and receiving a Bronze Star and Purple Heart — Mast contrasted the mission with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. "The Biden administration totally screwed that up," he said, and described the recent action as consistent with a focus on clearly defined missions and minimizing risk of prolonged engagement.

The interview ended after roughly an hour of discussion; Mast said U.S. officials are calculating next steps "very carefully" and emphasized the need to choose transition partners who will align Venezuela more closely with U.S. interests rather than with China, Russia, Iran or Cuba.