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United States President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington will "essentially" run Venezuela until what he described as “a safe, proper and judicious transition,” following a U.S. operation in the capital, Caracas, to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“We’re going to run the country until a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump told a news conference.
U.S. president's announcement came hours after a lightning attack in which special forces grabbed Maduro and his wife, while airstrikes pounded multiple sites, stunning the capital city.
Trump did not go into detail what he meant but told a press conference in Florida: "We're going to be running it with a group."
"We're designating people," he said, mentioning that cabinet officials standing with him would be in charge.
Trump said Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and removed from Venezuela. “They’re right now on a ship. They’ll be heading to, ultimately, New York, and then a decision will be made,” he said.
In another surprise, Trump indicated that U.S. troops could be deployed in Venezuela. The U.S. is "not afraid of boots on the ground," he said.
Trum added that U.S. was ready to stage 2nd, much larger attack on Venezuela "if we needed to do so."
Although the operation is being framed as a law-enforcement action, Trump made clear that regime change and Venezuela's oil riches are the major goals.
The 79-year-old Republican posted a picture of Maduro in custody on a US naval ship wearing a blindfold, handcuffs and what looked like noise-canceling ear muffs. He and his wife were being taken to New York to face narcotics and terrorism charges.
U.S president also said he would allow American oil companies to head into Venezuela to tap its massive crude reserves after a U.S. military operation to seize the country's leader Nicolas Maduro.
"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country," he added.
Earlier Saturday, Trump posted a photo on his Truth Social platform showing Maduro in custody aboard a U.S. naval vessel. The image depicted Maduro wearing a blindfold and handcuffs.
“Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump wrote, alongside the image.
In the photo, Maduro appeared to be wearing noise-canceling earmuffs and gray Nike-branded sweatpants and a jacket.
Venezuela’s government earlier accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states and declared a national emergency.
Trump later confirmed that U.S. forces carried out what he described as a “large-scale” strike, adding that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.
The developments followed months of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. U.S. officials have accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, allegations he has denied. Maduro has previously said he was willing to engage in talks with the United States.
U.S.-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on social media that “the hour of freedom has arrived,” calling for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to immediately assume power.
Trump dismissed the prospect of Machado leading the country, saying she lacked “support or respect” domestically. He suggested he could instead work with Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, saying she was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”
Trump indicated the U.S. presence would not be brief.
“We’re there now, but we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place,” he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected.”
China, a key backer of Maduro’s government, said it “strongly condemns” the U.S. attack, while France warned that a solution for Venezuela cannot “be imposed from outside.”
Caracas residents reported explosions and helicopter activity around 2 a.m. local time. Airstrikes hit a major military base and an airfield for nearly an hour, according to AFP journalists.
Trump said the operation began with a partial blackout caused by U.S. “expertise.”
U.S. military officials said about 150 aircraft supported the operation, which relied on months of intelligence gathering. Maduro, 63, and his wife surrendered without resistance and there were no U.S. casualties, officials said.
Within hours, much of Caracas was quiet, with police deployed around public buildings and smoke lingering in the streets.
Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013, succeeding Hugo Chavez. The United States and several European countries have long refused to recognize his legitimacy, citing disputed elections in 2018 and 2024.
Several members of the U.S. Congress questioned the legality of the operation. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the action was “decisive and justified.”
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