In a recent appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Rep. Dan Crenshaw articulated his support for President Donald Trump's assertive stance on Venezuela, though he expressed reservations about escalating military actions to land strikes. The Texas Republican underscored the effectiveness of the current administration's pressure campaign aimed at ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, emphasizing that such deterrence strategies are crucial when dealing with dictatorial regimes.

Crenshaw highlighted, "Deterrence almost always works, especially when you are dealing with dictators like Maduro. They only listen to one thing, which is power. And Venezuela has been largely left alone by American administrations. The Western Hemisphere has been left alone, and I think this president is taking it much more seriously."

The context for Crenshaw's remarks comes amid recent actions by the Trump administration, which has conducted several strikes against vessels purportedly used for smuggling drugs into the United States from Venezuela. These maritime operations have sparked discussions about potential expansions of military tactics to include land strikes, a move that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has voiced support for.

However, Crenshaw was more cautious about the prospect of land-based military operations, telling host Margaret Brennan that there needs to be "a longer conversation about doing something to that extent." The congressman clarified, "Talking hypotheticals about invading Venezuela, I mean, that's not really what we're talking about right now."

Beyond the topic of Venezuela, Crenshaw also took the opportunity to distance himself from Tucker Carlson, the Fox News anchor who recently faced widespread condemnation within the GOP for hosting Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes on his podcast. During that controversial interview, Carlson and Fuentes made remarks that were quickly branded as antisemitic, exacerbating tensions within the party.

"I have had a long-standing feud with Tucker Carlson," Crenshaw stated. "I’m glad everyone else is also waking up now to how bad of a person he is. He's changed a lot over the last 20 years."

The Republican party continues to grapple with the repercussions of these events, particularly as they navigate the fallout from a series of antisemitic texts that were exposed last month. As these controversies unfold, figures like Crenshaw play a pivotal role in shaping the party's response and its future direction, especially in foreign policy and ethical debates.