Ana Navarro called Donald Trump’s claim that the United States would “run” Venezuela “insane,” arguing that Venezuelans should not trade dictatorship for U.S. control. She made the remarks during CNN’s January 3, 2026 breaking-news coverage, while Trump’s announcement left basic questions about the proposed U.S. role unanswered.
What Ana Navarro said
Speaking with Erin Burnett from Madrid on CNN’s January 3, 2026 breaking-news coverage, Navarro said she had “mixed feelings” about the day’s events. She condemned Nicolás Maduro’s record but objected both to how he had been removed and to Trump’s statement that U.S. officials would run Venezuela. Navarro, whom CNN identified as a senior political commentator and co-host of The View, called Trump’s press conference “cuckoo crazy” and concluded her point with: “That’s insane.” CNN’s interview transcript records her remarks.
Why she objected to the idea of the U.S. running Venezuela
Navarro’s central objection was that Venezuelans should not endure dictatorship only to become a U.S. protectorate. “They deserve to be sovereign and free,” she said, advocating a peaceful transition and saying Venezuela’s elected leadership should take office rather than Marco Rubio or Pete Hegseth.
Navarro identified Edmundo González as the legitimate elected leader and described him as the stand-in for María Corina Machado. Those are Navarro’s descriptions and her political argument; the interview transcript is not an independent audit of Venezuela’s election.
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She also rejected claims that Venezuela was flooding the United States with fentanyl and cocaine. That, too, is her statement in the interview; the sources cited here do not independently establish or resolve the drug-trafficking claim.
What Trump meant by “run” was not clear
Trump said the United States would run Venezuela until a transition, but his announcement offered few details about how that would work. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described U.S. control as leverage, including through an oil quarantine, rather than direct day-to-day governance. CBS News reported on Trump’s announcement and Rubio’s explanation.
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In follow-up coverage, the Associated Press said Trump’s and Rubio’s public explanations appeared contradictory, leaving uncertainty about the extent of U.S. involvement. The contrast was between a broad claim that the United States would run the country and an explanation centered on pressure and leverage—not a clearly described system of governance. The AP report described that uncertainty; these early statements do not by themselves establish what policy was ultimately implemented.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Navarro’s reaction does—and does not—establish
Navarro’s use of “insane” was a criticism of Trump’s stated plan and its implications for Venezuelan sovereignty. Her comments show why she opposed the prospect of U.S. control and what kind of transition she favored. They should not be treated as independent proof about Venezuela’s election, the drug-trafficking claims she disputed, or the legal status of U.S. action.
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