Trump administration thanks media for withholding reporting on Venezuela raid

Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly thanked some news organizations that were told in advance about the U.S. operation in Venezuela and said their decision not to publish details helped protect lives; Semafor reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post delayed coverage after learning of the raid in advance.

U.S. forces carried out an operation in Venezuela last weekend that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly credited news organizations that had advance notice and said their decision not to report before the mission helped protect lives. Rubio said operational security was the primary reason for withholding information from Congress ahead of the mission. The exchange drew attention because Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has imposed new, restrictive press rules at the Pentagon. Key facts: - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a number of media outlets had received leaks about the operation and held them for that reason, and he thanked them for doing so. - Semafor reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post had learned of the raid in advance and delayed reporting; both outlets declined comment to The Associated Press. - The Associated Press reported it did not have advance notice of the operation but that its journalists in Venezuela heard and observed explosions and reported on the wire more than two hours before President Trump announced U.S. involvement. - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended restrictive new rules for Pentagon reporters, citing concerns about journalists soliciting classified or sensitive information; many outlets have left Pentagon posts rather than accept the rules, and The New York Times filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn them. - Reporters and editors cited in coverage said withholding information that could endanger people is a routine editorial decision; the article referenced practices at The Washington Post and an example involving an editor at The Atlantic. Summary: Rubio's public thank-you highlighted a rare moment of praise from the administration toward parts of the news media and focused attention on ongoing tensions over reporting on sensitive operations. The New York Times' legal challenge to Pentagon press rules is underway, and broader procedural or policy outcomes are undetermined at this time.