Rubio’s Message To World After Venezuela Strike: ‘If You Don’t Know, Now You Know’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear on Saturday that world leaders and bad actors should pay attention to President Donald Trump’s words, because when he says something, he means it.

“I hope people now understand,” Rubio posted to X. “The President of the United States is not a game player. When he tells you he’s going to do something and address a problem, he means it.”

After the administration successfully pulled off Operation Absolute Resolve and captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Rubio said during a press conference that Trump isn’t just bluster — which should be abundantly clear.

“This is a president of action,” he said. “I don’t understand how they haven’t figured this out. And, now, if you don’t know, now you know.”

“This is the way it’s going to play out, and I think people need to understand this is not a president that just talks and does letters and press conferences — if he says he’s serious about something, he means it.”

WATCH:

I hope people now understand. The President of the United States is not a game player. When he tells you he’s going to do something and address a problem, he means it. pic.twitter.com/bVhtqcoPWP

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) January 3, 2026

The official White House X account had some fun with Rubio’s message, posting a spliced video mocking the now-captured Maduro. The footage shows Maduro calling a former political opponent a “coward,” before cutting to Rubio’s “now you know” line while showing an image of Maduro in cuffs.

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The Trump administration said Maduro was offered numerous “off ramps” but refused to surrender, prompting the operation for the dictator’s arrest.

If you don’t know, now you know ???? pic.twitter.com/XrIps1OzY4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made a similar point, saying that Trump, with this recent capture, was fulfilling campaign promises — something the president has been doing since he was sworn into office.

“President Trump is a decisive and strong leader who does EXACTLY what he says he’s going to do,” she posted. “During his historic campaign in 2024, President Trump explicitly promised that he would work to ‘demolish foreign drug cartels’ to keep our citizens safe and that’s exactly what he did today through an unprecedented display of speed, precision, and power.”

Leavitt noted that former President Joe Biden “pathetically sat by and allowed our country to become a dumping ground for corrupt regimes in countries like Venezuela.”

The press secretary added that Trump’s latest moves are what “America First is all about.”

President Trump is a decisive and strong leader who does EXACTLY what he says he’s going to do.

During his historic campaign in 2024, President Trump explicitly promised that he would work to “demolish foreign drug cartels” to keep our citizens safe and that’s exactly what he… pic.twitter.com/2oz4rEwLfn

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 3, 2026

Related: General ‘Razin’ Caine Breaks Down Incredible Details Of Operation To Capture Maduro