U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday (January 28) to testify in the Senate about President Donald Trump's Venezuela policy, after scrambling to keep his former colleagues from passing a resolution to rein in the administration's war powers.

Rubio, a former Florida senator and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was likely to face a far less friendly reception than he did a year ago, when the Senate approved him unanimously to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

It is the first time Rubio will publicly face lawmakers' questions over the January 3 raid to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Senate hearing room was packed, with a long line of people waiting for entry and an overflow room set up. Senate staff warned attendees that they could be banned from hearings and possibly jailed if they disrupted the session.

Two weeks ago, Trump's fellow Republicans narrowly blocked a resolution that would have barred Trump from further military action in Venezuela without Congress' authorization. Vice President JD Vance was forced to break a tie. Rubio touted the success of the military operation and insisted there was no war with Venezuela and no U.S. occupation there, according to prepared remarks submitted to the committee.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 28, 2026) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR AND ENTERING ROOM WHERE HEARING WILL BE HELD

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 28, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. RUBIO ENTERING ROOM WHERE HEARING WILL BE HELD, GREETING SENATORS, SITTING AT TABLE

3. VARIOUS OF RUBIO SITTING AT TABLE AHEAD OF TESTIMONEY