Out MS Now anchor Rachel Maddow eviscerated the Trump Administrations flailing logic for its invasion of Venezuela and suggested a much simpler reason the president decided to arrest Venezuelan president Nicols Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores: Because he can. Maddow opened her segment by debunking the administrations shifting explanations for the invasion, outlining how the presidents initial claims it was motivated by drugs didnt make sense, considering the drug trade out of Venezuela does not actually affect the United States all that much. Related Trump may have invaded Venezuela because Maduros dancing hurt his feelings Besides, she said, Trumps recent pardon of the former president of Honduras who was convicted of trying to transport over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States pretty much negates the idea that he cares at all about drug trafficking. She also slammed claims that Trump invaded because Maduro is a dictator, considering the president has long praised foreign autocrats. Even his claims that he invaded for Venezuelas oil make no sense, Maddow said. She called attention to a report from Reuters that U.S. oil executives say Trump has never spoken to them about his plans, despite claiming he has kept them in the loop.Donald Trump likes the sound of Lets take the oil,' Maddow said. He thinks that sounds cool and transgressive and tough. He thinks it makes him sound like, kind of a king, a military conquest kinda guy. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But she isnt sure he understands what it actually means to take the oil. Its not just sitting in barrels at stores, she pointed out. Its under the earths surface and requires a massive and functional industry not to mention billions and billions of dollars to be drilled out. Oil isnt a thing you just mug someone for and then take it to the pawn shop for cash, she said. If youre Exxon, Maddow added, Do you think that because Trump just invaded and took away their president, now Venezuela is a great place, an excellent and stable place, to make Multibillion-dollar investments that wont pay off for years, if not decades? And if oil companies did recoup the investments, she said, they probably arent donating the proceeds to the U.S. Treasury, even though Trump seems to think the United States can pay for running the country through oil profits. Exxons just gonna give us the money? Maddow asked, confirming that taking the oil is not a sensical reason for invading the country and arresting its leader. The real reason for the invasion, Maddow said, may just be the simplest thing imaginable. What this is is a president who can barely bother with coming up with some barely false pretext because what he really wants is totally, unilateral, totally unaccountable, unquestioned ability to use the U.S. military anywhere for any purpose against anyone, even if it is inexplicable or unpopular or even illegal. He wants to break the perceived connection between public legitimacy for military action and the use of the United States military. He wants the ability to use the U.S. military with the consent of no one, she said. In December, Maddow similarly warned that Trump is increasingly exhibiting dictatorial behavior. Were no longer at the point where we need to be warned about whats coming, she said. Were now at a point where what we need is understanding whats going on, knowing what our options are in terms of how to preserve our democracy, to make sure that were not going to be the generation that lost the republic, she said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.