During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on January 3, 2026, President Trump declared that the United States would "run the country" of Venezuela until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" can occur.
The announcement followed a surprise U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Key details from the president's statements include:
Administration: Trump stated that Venezuela would be run "with a group," specifically designating cabinet members such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to oversee the transition.
Oil Infrastructure: A primary goal is to have major U.S. oil companies enter Venezuela to "fix the badly broken infrastructure" and begin extracting wealth. Trump indicated this would serve as "reimbursement" for damages caused to the U.S. by the Maduro regime.
Military Presence: Trump noted that U.S. forces had "boots on the ground" during the operation and expressed openness to maintaining a military presence to ensure the country is "run properly".
Interim Leadership: While Trump mentioned that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, he also claimed she "doesn't have a choice" but to cooperate with U.S. demands. He explicitly dismissed opposition leader María Corina Machado as a potential leader.
The capture of Maduro has sparked international condemnation from countries like China, Russia, and Brazil, while being praised by some U.S. allies and domestic supporters.
