Donald Trump has announced that the United States will temporarily take control of Venezuela after a US military operation captured President Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan leader was seized by US Special Forces in or near a safe house in Caracas on Saturday, with the operation knocking out electricity in parts of the capital. Trump confirmed Maduro is in US custody and has been flown to New York.
Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said: 'We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.' He added that the US could not risk someone else taking over who does not have Venezuelans' interests at heart. Trump hailed the attack as 'an assault like people have not seen since World War Two', though the New York Times reported at least 40 deaths, including civilians and Venezuelan soldiers.
A plane carrying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in upstate New York on Saturday evening. Officials told NBC News that Maduro will be processed and taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City, with a court appearance expected by Monday evening. Video shared by an official White House account appears to show Maduro in handcuffs at the US Drug Enforcement Administration offices.
Trump said US oil companies would invest billions to fix Venezuela's oil infrastructure, and that the US would be reimbursed from oil revenues. He indicated openness to sending more troops if needed, stating: 'We're not afraid of boots on the ground.' However, US forces do not currently control Venezuela, and Maduro's government appears to remain in charge. Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, reportedly sworn in after Maduro's capture, gave a televised address maintaining a critical tone, contradicting Trump's claim that she had said 'We'll do whatever you need.'
The operation has drawn condemnation from Democrats in the US Congress and several world leaders, who describe it as the most dangerous example of US imperialism since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Trump, who campaigned on ending foreign wars, defended the move as necessary to ensure a proper transition.
