Donald Trump has announced that the United States will temporarily take control of Venezuela following a US special forces operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro. 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.
The audacious overnight raid, which knocked out electricity in parts of Caracas, resulted in the capture of Maduro from one of his safe houses. The New York Times reported at least 40 deaths, including civilians and Venezuelan soldiers. Trump described the operation as “an assault like people have not seen since world war two”. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to Stewart air national guard base in upstate New York and are expected to be processed at the Metropolitan detention centre in New York City.
Trump said the US would administer Venezuela “with a group”, pointing to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan “Razin” Caine. He indicated openness to deploying further troops, stating: “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to have.” The president claimed the occupation would not cost the US money, as it would be reimbursed from Venezuela’s oil revenues.
The intervention has drawn condemnation from Democrats and international leaders, who likened it to US imperialism since the Iraq invasion. Despite the capture, Maduro’s government appears to remain in charge, and Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in after Maduro’s capture, rejected Trump’s claims of cooperation, maintaining a defiant tone in a televised address.
