Return to Transcripts main page
The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: White House Weighs Options for Acquiring Greenland; European Leaders Decry Trump's Threats to Annex Greenland; Rodriguez: No Foreign Agent Running Venezuela; U.S. Companies Eye Investment Opportunities in Venezuela; U.K. and France Pledge to Send Troops to Ukraine; Iran Rocked by Protests. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired January 06, 2026 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:00]
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR, "THE BRIEF": Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington, and
you're watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, the White House says acquiring Greenland is a national security priority, and that using the military to do so remains an
option. Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, says no foreign agent is running the country. And protests in Iran in their second week as
a cost-of-living crisis continues to grip the country.
The White House says that President Trump and his team are now discussing options to acquire Greenland, and that the military option is one of them.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt adds, President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the
United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region.
Denmark asserts -- disputes that assertion, pointing out that Greenland, which is part of its sovereign territory, is covered already by the NATO
alliance. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged the White House today to stop its rhetoric.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
METTE FREDERIKSEN, DANISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Europe and the United States have been each other's closest allies since the end of
the Second World War, and the reason why our people have lived in peace and freedom has been because we have worked together, not the opposite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Denmark is not alone. Frederiksen and six other European leaders issued a joint statement today, saying in part, Greenland belongs to its
people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland. Their statement is an apparent
response to comments made here on CNN by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POLICY: The real question is, by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What
is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?
The United States is the power of NATO. For the United States to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend NATO and NATO interests, obviously
Greenland should be part of the United States. Nobody's going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Kristen Holmes is live at the White House. Kristen, Stephen Miller there, saying, and White House officials have said the same since
then, that military force or pressure remains an option. Should those listening right now believe that that is a possibility, that the U.S.
might, if the president is thwarted in other ways, use military force to take Greenland?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, President Trump has been talking about this idea of taking Greenland since he first
struck office, or at least the second time in 2025. This is a new conversation, but it certainly takes on new meaning after we've seen him
and the United States actually invade a country in Venezuela, invade a country and take the leader of that country, or capture the leader of that
country and bring them to the United States.
So, what the United States is willing to do seems to be more confusing now than ever. And you should, we should, as the news media and those watching,
take it seriously. It's something that President Trump might want to do. When we're talking to these various White House officials, they repeatedly
have not ruled out any kind of military action.
And as you noted, the press secretary today actually going further than that and saying that military action always remains on the table. What you
heard from Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller there was this kind of strange assertion that Denmark shouldn't have claim over Greenland. Why do
they get to claim Greenland, say, instead of the United States?
He also went on at one point to say that nobody would fight the U.S. and the U.S. military in some kind of Greenland takeover. So, this is
something, of course, that people should take seriously, as President Trump is now kind of ramping up this rhetoric, particularly in the wake of the
U.S. invasion in Venezuela.
[18:05:00]
SCIUTTO: Well, I wonder, would the opposition of NATO, which seemed to be quite clear from that joint statement from European leaders today, would
that deter this administration? It seems the answer is no.
HOLMES: Well, Jim, I'll make clear to you that that opposition from NATO came out hours and hours and hours before we had an on-the-record statement
from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that military force was always an option for President Trump. It's not as though they issued that
afterwards. The White House has clearly seen that statement and decided to move ahead with this rhetoric.
And again, right now it is just rhetoric. It is not something that they are actively pursuing. And by actively pursuing, I mean putting boots on the
ground or some kind of military intervention in Greenland. They are actively pursuing any way that they could somehow acquire Greenland as part
of the United States.
President Trump has made clear that this is a national security priority for him, saying that the United States needs to be in control because of
the location of Greenland. But also, one thing to keep in note that he also mentions is how many rare minerals Greenland has. It's one of the richest
countries in rare minerals.
So, the idea right now is that, yes, this is rhetoric, but also the idea that NATO might stand in the way. I mean, this is the White House posturing
right now, having already heard from the leader of Denmark, from the leader of these various NATO countries saying basically cut it out and kind of
saying we don't care, we're going to keep saying this.
SCIUTTO: Yes, no question. Kristen Holmes at the White House, thanks so much. Well, joining me now is a member of Greenland's parliament, Kuno
Fencker. Thanks so much for taking the time.
KUNO FENCKER, MEMBER, PARLIAMENT OF GREENLAND: Thank you.
SCIUTTO: The last time we spoke, you said that you did not interpret President Trump's remarks to that time as a threat to use military force
against Greenland or Denmark. Now, you have multiple administration officials on the record saying that options up to and including military
force are on the table. What's your reaction to hearing that?
FENCKER: Well, I don't want to fearmonger people anymore. And I will say that if I listen carefully to what they're saying, is that if Russians,
Chinese or any other adversaries for the hegemon, the United States is here -- or in Greenland or make some maybe getting too close to Greenland in
regards to minerals, oil, gas, whatever, then they wouldn't rule out military force. Of course, the number one hegemon in the world will have to
say that.
SCIUTTO: Well, to be clear, he was talking about military force not against Russia or China, but possible military pressure to force Denmark or
Greenland to give up its own sovereignty. What's your reaction to that? If the U.S. president were to order military forces to pressure Greenland to
join the United States.
FENCKER: Again, I don't buy that narrative at all. And I'm a little bit sick and tired of hearing that, actually. So, I will say that Greenland and
Denmark has to be diplomatic. I think the reaction, which is like a child in tantrum, should stop. And then we should take some official contact with
the United States and speak with them directly on what their concerns are and what the possibilities are.
Greenland wants the -- independence, which we want our sovereign country back from the annexation that Denmark did in 1953. So, the possibility of a
compact of free association that the United States is open about, as I can hear, is a democratic process that they also did in Micronesia, Palau and
the Marshall Islands in the decolonization process. So, that is, in my opinion, a positive aspect.
SCIUTTO: OK. To be clear, I'm quoting the actual words of the president and White House officials. I'm not making them up. According to polling, 85
percent of Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S. Are you in a minority there supporting some sort of negotiation along these lines?
FENCKER: I think what we have is a clear rule, which is the Article 21 for our external self-determination. And we will, from our party, adhere to
that. Absolutely. And what we have here is a negotiation that will soon start if we activate it. And then we will start negotiations with Denmark.
And if there is a possibility for a leverage and if the United States is coming up with some kind of an offer, why should we take it off the table?
We have to see what's on the table and see what we can present the people in a democratic plebiscite.
[18:10:00]
SCIUTTO: As you know, the 1951 Defense of Greenland Agreement already gives the U.S. broad rights in Greenland. Troops, bases, operational
control. What exactly is lacking in terms of security for Greenland, given that that agreement already exists? Not to mention the NATO agreement,
which would mean that any attack on Greenland, given its territory of a NATO ally, Denmark, would require defense by the U.S. What is missing, in
your view, in terms of Greenland security?
FENCKER: Yes. The agreement with Denmark is from 51. So, Denmark made that without the consent of Greenland. And that was while we were still a colony
of Denmark. So, that has not been -- it's been amended a little bit. So, it's a sort of a trilateral agreement. But Denmark -- Greenland is not a
sovereign state. So, we don't have a direct say in that. Denmark has the prerogative in foreign politics.
So, what is needed here is that in 2009, the prime minister of Denmark promised the United States that they will up the ante in regards to the
budget and defending and also the military budget in Greenland. They haven't done so. So, that is what is lacking. And also, yes, the United
States has the possibility to put up the military equipment that they would require, but in the consent of the Greenlandic people, in my opinion.
But we are a bit tired of going through Denmark all the time, and we need to have a direct talk with the United States. And also, the United States
can't give us security guarantees. I don't think anyone else can do that.
SCIUTTO: So, you don't believe the NATO treaty, which already requires mutual defense, and given that Greenland is part of Denmark's sovereign
territory and Denmark is a treaty ally of the United States, you don't think that's a sufficient defense for Greenland? Not to mention that the
U.S. military force is already based there?
FENCKER: It could be a discussion. I don't know. But NATO has changed a lot. We know that many countries have gone into NATO since when they
started, and the geopolitical situation is absolutely different from back then. So, we know that we have to do something now, and what we don't need
to do is to be unfriendly towards the United States, which is the biggest part of NATO.
SCIUTTO: Do you consider it friendly for the United States to talk about forcefully acquiring Greenland? Those are the direct words of the president
and his advisers.
FENCKER: There are many words being said here. I will stick to the positive side, which is Greenland has the right to self-determination. They
would welcome Greenland to the United States. And also, many comments here have already been spoken by the special envoy and so forth that they will
not use a military force against Greenland or Denmark, but it will be if there is an adversary in the area that needs to be taken care of.
SCIUTTO: I would recommend you read the remarks of the president and the White House spokesperson today, because they were quite different. Kuno
Fencker, thanks so much for joining.
FENCKER: Well, I haven't seen it. Yes. Thanks.
SCIUTTO: Now, to Venezuela, where acting President Delcy Rodriguez insists the U.S. is not running the country, as President Trump has claimed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELCY RODRIGUEZ, ACTING VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We are a people who do not give up, who do not surrender. And we are here
governing together with the people. The government of Venezuela governs our country, no one else. There is no external agent that governs Venezuela.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Earlier, Rodriguez had called for cooperation with the Trump administration. Here in Washington, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune
describes Rodriguez as, quote, "practical and pragmatic," following Monday's classified briefing. She was, of course, vice president to Nicolas
Maduro.
In a speech to Republican lawmakers today, President Trump touted that there were no U.S. casualties during the military operation that captured
Maduro. In fact, there were U.S. personnel who were wounded. Havana says at least 32 Cuban security forces were killed in Caracas. It is not clear
exactly how many Venezuelans died.
Stefano Pozzebon is in Bogota, Colombia. I wonder, Stefano, and you've spent a lot of time in Venezuela, what are your sources there saying now
about who's running the country? Is it the government of Delcy Rodriguez, or is it the United States?
[18:15:00]
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It is Delcy Rodriguez without any doubt. Today is for example, Jim, the day that Delcy Rodriguez is flexing
her muscle and being shown outside in the streets of Caracas as the woman in charge. She's actually on television right now visiting a slum to the
west of Caracas called Antimano, another of those areas where the government of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro after him used to be very
popular at the height of the Bolivarian Revolution. They've lost a lot of the support that they used to have back pre-pandemic, but still it's a core
support area for the government and that's why Delcy Rodriguez is going to visit those areas.
Earlier today, Rodriguez had also held a meeting with a council for food security, clearly an area of crucial importance for a country where more
than 84 percent of the population still live below the poverty lines. And we heard that the news from Reuters, our colleagues at Reuters tracking
that some representatives of the Rodriguez herself had reached out to representatives and officials from the White House in trying to set up
meetings to see how to boost up the exports of crude oil directly from Venezuela into the United States, which is of course an area of cooperation
that is very close to the heart of President Donald Trump and an area of cooperation that, of course, Delcy Rodriguez knows she needs to nail into
in order to maintain the jobs that she received after such a dramatic operation as the one that we saw early on Saturday morning. A dramatic
operation that has left dozens of people killed in the streets of Caracas.
Today, we can give you an updated death toll of at least 57 people that were killed as a result of that operation, because on top of the 32 Cuban
officials that we already knew and were tracking, we now have a statement from the Venezuelan army saying that at least 24 Venezuelan uniformed men
had been killed and the governorship of a state to the north of Caracas, the State of La Guaira, which is in the Caribbean coastline, confirmed the
death of at least one person, an old woman that died tragically, a civilian in this case, of course, as a result of that operation. The State of La
Guaira sent us a statement saying that the local governorship had called for three day of mourning for the entire state.
But today, as I was saying, is a day where Caracas returns in a way to normality. Normality unfortunately for many people in Venezuela. And when
it comes to normality, it means people and security officers must normally behind balaclava questioning regular Venezuelans about their political
allegiances and the holding investigations into whether there was a Venezuelan component in that particular operation that led to the capture
of Nicolas Maduro and her wife.
But Delcy Rodriguez clearly trying to show that she's the woman in charge, showing both her countrymen but mostly the White House that she can deliver
on the promise of stability and improved relationships with the United States by which she was basically spared and she's now in the driving chair
when it comes to her country. Jim.
SCIUTTO: Yes, and the threat from the White House seems to be, we'll shut down your economy if you don't listen to us. Stefano Pozzobon, thanks so
much for joining.
Coming up, President Trump says Venezuela is open for business. He wants U.S. oil companies back there within months. Lots of hurdles remain though,
we're going to discuss coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:20:00]
SCIUTTO: Welcome back in today's Business Breakout, another record- breaking day on Wall Street. The Dow finishing at yet more all-time highs for a second straight session, closing above the 49,000-milestone for the
first time. The S&P also hit a new record. All this despite across-the- board weakness in oil stocks. They rallied Monday after the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Oil fell after Monday's gains on fears of too much
global supply.
Well, President Trump is hoping to get Venezuela's oil infrastructure rebuilt within 18 months. He says the U.S. could offer billions in
financial incentives to get oil companies to invest again, and he says he's been speaking to oil executives about what happens next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you spoken to the oil companies about going to Venezuela?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Yes, I have.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Which ones? Have you received any commitments?
TRUMP: All of the (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any commitments from the oil companies?
TRUMP: They want to go in so badly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you speak with them before the operation took place?
TRUMP: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you maybe tip them off --
TRUMP: Before and after. And they want to go in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Remember, oil companies spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get Trump re-elected in 2024. One top Trump supporter who stands to make
billions is Paul Singer. He won court backing last year to take over Citgo, that is the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state-run oil and gas company.
Notable.
Richard Quest joins me now. So, Richard, President Trump says just 18 months. Oil companies seem to think longer, perhaps decades, to rebuild the
oil infrastructure there. Who's right?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND CNN ANCHOR, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: Both, in the sense that it's a process. There are a variety of
sine qua norms that have to take place before anything is going to be built or any investment is going to be put in place.
Firstly, you're going to have to put in place security, security guarantees, physical security for people who are actually going in there.
Then you're going to have to put in place a legal framework. The companies going in, under what terms, what jurisdictions, are they allowed, are they
being tolerated? Thirdly, what rewards are they going to have? What financial guarantees are going to be put in place?
Now, let's assume you can get all that done relatively quickly. Now, we come to the interesting bit, Jim, which is the companies themselves, the
oil companies, they know they need this oil. We're going to need carbon fuels for decades to come. So, yes, there is a great urgency and a wish to
have this.
I was talking earlier to one hedge fund manager about this, who's got great experience about Latin Central America, about investments there, and the
way in which the oil companies will now view it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT KOENIGSBERGER, FOUNDER, GRAMERCY FUNDS MANAGEMENT: This was a removal, decapitation and extraction of the leadership, but the regime
remains in place. And we have to remind ourselves that that regime continues to have sanctions in place. In fact, the president herself and
the head of the legislature are sanctioned individuals.
So, before -- you know, you just can't simply get on an airplane and go to Caracas and start knocking on doors, there needs to be a liberation of the
sanctions environment as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: And remember, oil companies are used to thinking in decades. If you're building an oil rig in the North Sea or off the coast, you're used
to the idea that you may not see return from this for 15, 20, 30, 40 years. So, they will be -- they're not going to be fazed by what's at stake here
or what the challenges are, but they're going to want to make sure that the regime, both there and in the U.S., is precipitant for them.
[18:25:00]
SCIUTTO: Is there any concern among oil firms that the fix is in, to some degree, given Trump's personal connections to the man who runs Citgo, the
oil company with the biggest financial interest and oil interest in Venezuela?
QUEST: No, no, I don't think so. For the simple reason that even if there was, even if there was favoritism for one company, this is so big, you're
going to need Exxon Mobil. You're going to need Shell. You're going to need BP. I mean, but now that's another issue, by the way, because that, of
course, are European companies.
So, you've got -- you may have more favorites. And then you've got the Russians and the Chinese who are also already there. But no, there is more
than enough to go around. The issue here is quite clearly going to be the environment upon which they are going in and how long, say, the contracts
are, what the risks are going to be.
Look, there are going to be favoritisms. There's going to be underhand deals. There's going to be all sorts of dodgy dealings. There always is
when you're talking about hydrocarbons. But eventually, from this will come an oil industry that's going to generate billions in profits for many years
to come.
SCIUTTO: Perhaps more such dealing today than in the past, but we'll see. You know this better than me. Richard Quest, thanks so much.
Checking some of today's other business headlines, NVIDIA has unveiled new A.I. chips at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The
company says its Vera Rubin processors will power its next generation A.I. platforms and will be used for more advanced tasks. CEO Jensen Huang says
the chips are currently in production and will be on sale later this year.
China is announcing new economic penalties on Japan amid their ongoing dispute over Taiwan. Beijing is banning exports of some rare earths and
other items which Japan could use for military purposes. Japan's new prime minister angered China in November when she said a Chinese invasion of
Taiwan could trigger a military response from her country.
The U.S. Supreme Court could announce its eagerly awaited ruling on President Trump's tariffs as early as Friday. The court heard arguments on
the legality of those tariffs in November. At the time even some conservative justices appeared skeptical the White House could issue the
tariffs using a law meant for national emergencies. We'll be watching the court on Friday.
So, who's in charge of Venezuela? We of course hearing conflicting assessments from the acting president in Caracas, President Trump, and even
others in his administration. After the break, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee will give you his view.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
SCIUTTO: Now, to Paris, where European leaders announced new security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. Kyiv's
allies would provide arms. The U.K. and France are even promising to put boots on the ground in Ukraine. The U.S. would monitor the potential
ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron says all of this will dissuade further aggression on Ukraine and help the rest of Europe take charge of
its own defense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): What we want is more independent Europe, which has more defense capability. That is, say,
Europe looking after its own defense more at the same time as NATO.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: President Trump's aggressive comments on taking Greenland even by force loomed large during the talks. Greenland, we should remind you, is an
autonomous territory of Denmark, which is a part of NATO, like the U.S. Melissa Bell asked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about the implications
for the alliance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you agree with the Danish prime minister's assessment, though, that were there an
attempted annexation of Greenland by the United States, this would spell the end of NATO?
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Well, let me approach this from another angle. We all agree that it is true that the Russians and the
Chinese are more and more active in the area. But you look at Denmark, they are investing heavily in their military. And very important to say that the
U.S. has a bilateral agreement with Denmark from 1951. They had a lot of people -- a lot of military in Greenland in the past. And the Danes are
totally fine if the U.S. would have a bigger presence than they have now.
So, I think this collectively shows that we make the same assessment, and we have to make sure that the Arctic stays safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: He didn't quite answer the question there about the future of the alliance. In Caracas, Venezuela's attorney general is demanding the release
of Nicolas Maduro, who is currently in a jail cell in New York. He insists Maduro has diplomatic immunity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAKEN WILLIAM SAAB, VENEZUELAN ATTORNEY GENERAL (through translator): Under customary international law ratified by the International Court of
Justice, sitting heads of state enjoy absolute personal immunity. This means they cannot be arrested or prosecuted by foreign courts, even if
false charges are fabricated against them, as we are seeing, all of which are unfounded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: The Trump administration's plan for what comes next remains unclear. Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in now as acting president,
remember, she was Maduro's vice president, saying today that no external agent is running the country. President Trump says he's in charge.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says the U.S. will act to stabilize Venezuela.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): For those who are saying that we're going to run and occupy Venezuela, we're not. We're going to build up the country.
We're running it for now. It needs somebody with a steady hand to keep the country from falling apart again. That would be the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: There's that language again, we're running it for now. Joining me now, Democratic Congressman Gil Cisneros, who sits on the House Armed
Services Committee. Congressman, thanks so much for taking the time.
REP. GIL CISNEROS (D-CA) AND MEMBER, U.S. HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: No, a pleasure to be here.
SCIUTTO: You specifically used the word kidnapping to describe the administration's actions regarding Maduro and his wife. What kind of
precedent did this operation set for the U.S.?
CISNEROS: Well, you know, this is unlike anything I think we've ever done before. Of course, you know, Republicans are trying to tie this to Panama
and Manuel Noriega. But to me, this is a totally different situation. Maduro is a bad guy. He's not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. But this
was not a law enforcement operation like they are claiming, this was about grabbing oil and trying to get their hands on these Venezuelan resources.
[18:35:00]
SCIUTTO: The plan going forward seems to be to apply pressure to Maduro's former vice president, now president, and the rest of the regime, which
remains, by the way, including the military, as Senator Graham said, to put on notice the government. Is that a workable plan to achieve the
administration's aims here?
CISNEROS: I don't think the administration really has a plan or really kind of thought this through. I can only take the president at his word,
and he said he's not afraid to put boots on the ground. So, if that's what it's going to take, I think in order for him to get his hands on that oil,
then he is -- you know, he's not going to stop. He's going to go and he'll use our military to illegally take the resources that belong to the
Venezuelan people.
They were not stolen from the United States. This is resources, this oil belongs to the people of Venezuela, and they should be the ones who make
the decisions and determination on how they're going to use it.
SCIUTTO: We have been watching this closely on the Hill, and the Senate is set to vote this week on a measure to limit Trump's war powers in
Venezuela. As you know, on the Senate side, there's only one Republican senator who seems on board. Do you see any movement in Congress here to
assert some authority over the exercise of military power in Venezuela, or is this going to be another failed errand?
CISNEROS: Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have turned over a lot of the power of the Congress to the president. They refuse to hold him
accountable, and that is a big mistake. And it really empowered him to go out and do what he wants, whatever he wants, whether it's raising tariffs,
whether it's invading countries. It is not supposed to be that way.
We are an equal branch of government, and we need to enforce our legitimacy that's given to us by the Constitution. We are the only branch that can
declare war. We are the only branch that can authorize military use. None of that was done in this situation, and I don't think the president will --
you know, he's not going to change the way he acts into the future. If he wants to use the military, he's going to act again without asking Congress,
and that, unfortunately, is not the way that's supposed to be done.
But until my Republican colleagues stand up and really kind of exert their power under the Constitution, nothing's really going to change.
SCIUTTO: You're a former Pentagon official. You're also a veteran. There were legal questions about the deadly boat strikes, particularly the
double-tap strike, in and around Venezuela prior to this. Now, there are legal questions about this operation. Are you concerned that members of the
U.S. military are being put in a position where they feel pressure to obey illegal orders?
CISNEROS: Most definitely. You know, when you're in the military, right, you're given an order, and pretty much you're going to carry it out. You
just kind of take and you assume that an order given to you by your commander that's coming down from the secretary of defense or the
president, that it is legitimate and it is a lawful order.
But I do feel, and I've -- you know, when the admiral came and talked to us about those boat strikes, right, I kind of got the sense that he was put in
a predicament of really, you know, not knowing how to act, right? I think he kind of made -- he kind of took those orders as they were. They were the
orders that were given to him, and he carried them out.
Unfortunately, I don't think they were lawful, and I don't agree with any of these boat strikes, the action that the military has taken on these.
SCIUTTO: The president, of course, has set his sights on the next target, and that apparently is Greenland, and he quite deliberately has not taken
military operation -- options, rather, off the table to take Greenland. If the U.S. does proceed to take territory from a sovereign nation who also is
a NATO ally, Denmark, would that be the end of the NATO alliance, in your view?
CISNEROS: You know, it would be, and I think it would be the end of our constitution, right? I think the fact that a president would go and commit
an act of war by doing that and taking over, you know, Greenland, who is an ally? It would -- you know, they wouldn't have, if I was a NATO ally, I
would not have confidence in us in the United States if we went and did that action, and it's unfortunate that a president is even kind of talking
about that.
[18:40:00]
We are supposed to be there to support our allies, to defend them when they need us to, and as they agreed to do the same for us, but invading one of
our allies is definitely, that is not the American way, and the president is living in the -- he's basically living in the 18th, 19th century,
infatuated with manifest destiny, and he thinks we're trying to conquer the continental United States again or whatever. It's just -- I don't know
what's going on in his head, to be honest with you.
SCIUTTO: Yes, saying invading an American ally is not the American way, it's amazing you have to utter those words. Congressman Cisneros, thanks so
much for joining.
CISNEROS: Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Well, we are learning more about Venezuela's new interim leader, a former oil minister in an oil-rich nation. She is no stranger to wielding
power. However, she now must walk a tightrope between leading her nation without angering Washington. Paula Newton has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For weeks now, in her carefully curated social media accounts, Delcy Rodriguez has strived to
project a commanding hold on the economy, specifically the energy industry.
Stressing that the situation was improving and that she was fulfilling vital commercial commitments, even to the U.S.
That crafted persona is serving her well. She was sworn in as Venezuela's acting president on Monday, seen by many as a steady hand who could help
avoid a transitional crisis.
She is also a familiar, genial and long-standing presence for Venezuelans, many of whom simply refer to her as Delcy.
Images like these belie the repression that is still a feature of everyday life here. That includes a decree that allows the regime to hunt down and
capture anyone who promotes or supports the U.S. attack on the country. In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria
Corina Machado warned that Rodriguez will remain loyal to the regime.
MARIA CORINA MACHADO, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER: She's a main ally and liaison with Russia, China, Iran. Certainly not an individual that could
be, you know, trusted by international investors.
NEWTON (voice-over): In fact, Rodriguez was embraced by ambassadors from Russia, China and Iran just moments after she was sworn in. Todd Robinson,
the former acting U.S. ambassador to Venezuela during President Trump's first term, tells CNN Rodriguez is smart, but combative and cunning.
TODD D. ROBINSON, FORMER ACTING U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VENEZUELA: My guess is she has worked some kind of deal where she will either be able to stay for
a while as they work through a transition, perhaps leave after the transition is over. She was part of the ruling elite, the coterie that was
benefiting from all of the illegal activity going on at the highest levels of the Maduro regime.
NEWTON (voice-over): U.S. President Trump has warned that if Rodriguez doesn't do what's right, he told The Atlantic she is going to pay a very
big price.
The scope of what's right, though, in Venezuela has so far been focused on the economy and a calm transition, not the democratic rights of its
citizens.
Paula Newton, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: Just ahead, Iran is cracking down on protest despite warnings not to do so by President Trump. We're going to look at whether the attack on
Venezuela could have an impact on what Tehran does next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:45:00]
SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief. I'm Jim Sciutto." And here are the international headlines we're watching today.
European leaders are pushing back against the U.S. and its renewed interest of taking control of Greenland. Perhaps by force. The White House says
President Trump considers the Danish territory critical to U.S. national security. The Danish Prime Minister urging the White House to tone down its
rhetoric.
Ukraine may be moving closer to getting firm security guarantees from the West. In Paris, the leaders of the U.K. and France signed an agreement
saying they will send troops to Ukraine if and when a peace deal with Russia is in place.
Today also marks five years since the U.S. Capitol was attacked. A crowd attempted to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020
presidential election. House Democrats and members of the former January 6th Select Committee held an unofficial hearing today with witnesses. Those
who took part in the attack held a march. Many of them were pardoned by President Trump last year.
Skiers formed a giant heart, as you see there on the slopes of Crans- Montana, in Switzerland, to honor the 40 people killed in a fire on New Year's Eve there. Local officials now say the bar where those people were
celebrating had not had a mandatory fire safety inspection since 2019. Among the victims of that fire were 26 teenagers. The average age of those
killed, just 19. We should note the minimum drinking age in Switzerland is 16. Citizens of more than a dozen countries were among the injured.
Prosecutors believe that sparklers attached to the top of champagne bottles, as you see there, ignited the soundproofing material on the
ceiling. Witnesses reported seeing an employee on the shoulders of another carrying bottles with those lit candles. Officials say the bar had no fire
alarm because it was not required to due to its size. The bar's French owners are now under criminal investigation on suspicion of three crimes,
homicide by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and fire by negligence.
Well, following the arrest and extraction of Nicolas Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump has been leveling threats against a long list of countries,
among them Iran. Protests began there more than a week ago, driven by a cost-of-living crisis, collapsing currency. President Trump warned Iranian
officials they're, quote, "going to get hit very hard by the United States if forces there kill protesters." Paula Hancocks has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A female protester is dragged from a street in Tehran. Demonstrators run for cover as gunfire is
heard in Malekshahi, a city in Iran's western Ilan province. It is a familiar and brutal response to nationwide protests, now in their second
week.
The Iranian currency is collapsing, inflation rising, and the cost of living becoming hard to bear. Shopkeepers, traders and students on the
streets blame government mismanagement. Officials say publicly they are willing to talk.
[18:50:00]
SANAM VAKIL, CHATHAM HOUSE: The government is trying to be more amenable to dialogue. President Pezeshkian has offered to mediate and engage. He's
acknowledged responsibility.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): But as the president offers dialogue, the security forces are cracking down, attacking protesters holed up in this hospital in
Ilan. Social media footage shows forces inside looking for injured protesters and those trying to hide. The U.S. State Department said, quote,
"The assault on the injured with tear gas and live ammunition is a blatant crime against humanity." The U.S. president has already threatened to step
in if protesters are killed.
TRUMP: We're watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the
United States.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): A move against the Iranian regime that Israel's prime minister has been encouraging.
ESMAIL BAGHAEL, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): Actions or statements raised by figures such as the prime minister of the
Zionist regime or some radical American officials regarding Iran's internal affairs amount under international norms to nothing more than incitement to
violence, incitement to terrorism and incitement to killing.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): U.S. military attacks on Venezuela over the weekend and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro will be watched closely in
Tehran.
VAKIL: I think Venezuela adds icing to a really clearly baked cake for Iran. The Islamic Republic has learned the hard way that President Trump is
unpredictable.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Although the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, does still have some support, there are increasing calls for his
removal, both inside and outside the country.
Paula Hancocks, CNN Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: You are watching "The Brief," and we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: Five years ago, today, a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol driven by President Trump's false and repeatedly debunked allegation that the 2020
election had been stolen. U.S. lawmakers of both parties barricaded themselves into their offices and on the floor of Congress to protect
themselves. They were defended by members of the Capitol and D.C. police. More than 100 police officers were injured. At the official hearing, one of
those officers spoke of a shifting narrative about that day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL FANONE, THEN-D.C. POLICE OFFICER: I feel like I went to hell and back to protect them and the people in this room. But too many are now
telling me that hell doesn't exist, or that hell actually wasn't that bad. The indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: The House of Representatives impeached President Trump for incitement of insurrection by a vote of 232 to 197, with 10 Republicans
joining all Democrats. 57 senators, including 7 Republicans, voted to convict him. Those are the facts.
[18:55:00]
Today, the White House, though, shared a long list of lies about that day. I'm going to name and debunk just a few of them. The White House says that
Congress certified massive mail-in ballot fraud, false. The White House says there were hidden suitcases of ballots, false. The White House says
Vice President Pence prevented Trump from addressing an election steal, there was no steal. The White House claimed that the mob attacked despite
his, Trump's, explicit calls for peaceful protests. The bipartisan January 6th committee found the president waited 187 minutes, more than three
hours, to call the rioters off. Yet, when Trump took office again last year, he pardoned all those convicted of assaulting the Capitol, including
those who assaulted police officers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: This is January 6th. These are the hostages. Approximately 1,500 for a pardon. Full pardon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: That doesn't change the facts. And certainly, a post on the White House website won't do so.
Thanks for your company. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
