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US President Donald Trump said Saturday that his administration is already making Venezuela “rich and safe again,” following a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife earlier this month.
“I love the Venezuelan people and am already making Venezuela rich and safe again,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, thanking those involved in what he described as progress in the country.
Trump’s remarks came after a meeting at the White House with more than a dozen oil executives to discuss investment opportunities in Venezuela.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said companies were prepared to invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” in drilling operations.
Following the Jan. 3 military operation, Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.
Maduro and his wife were flown to New York, where they appeared in court on drug and weapons charges and pleaded not guilty.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency to safeguard Venezuelan oil revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts.
The White House said the funds are sovereign property of Venezuela, held in US custody for diplomatic purposes and protected from private legal claims, in line with US foreign policy objectives.
Trump also welcomed what he described as the beginning of a large-scale release of political prisoners in Venezuela.
In another Truth Social post, he said Caracas had started freeing detainees “in a big way,” while warning that cooperation with the US should continue.
He said he canceled a second wave of US military strikes due to improved cooperation.
A US diplomatic and security delegation traveled to Caracas on Friday to assess the possibility of resuming operations at the US Embassy.
Amid the developments, the US Embassy urged American citizens to “immediately” leave Venezuela, citing a fluid security situation.
The embassy warned of reports involving armed militias known as colectivos setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles.
The advisory reiterated Venezuela’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” status, citing risks including wrongful detention, violence, crime and civil unrest.
Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry rejected the warning, calling it based on “non-existent accounts” aimed at creating a false perception of risk.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said the country remains in a state of calm, peace and stability.
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