Trump declares US will ‘run’ Venezuela following Maduro’s capture

January 03, 2026 / 11:53 PM

Smoke rises over the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, following US airstrikes

Sharjah 24 – AFP: President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States will “run” Venezuela and tap its vast oil reserves following a military raid that seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

US President outlines goals for Venezuela

Trump said the operation aims to repair Venezuela's “badly broken” oil infrastructure and allow US companies to invest billions of dollars. He also suggested US troops might remain in the country until a “proper transition” occurs.

“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies… go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,” Trump said. “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil.”

A photo posted by Trump showed Maduro in custody aboard a US naval ship, blindfolded and handcuffed, as he and his wife were being taken to New York to face narcotics and terrorism charges.

Trump rejects opposition leader

US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called for her candidate to assume the presidency, but Trump dismissed her, saying she lacks “support or respect” in Venezuela. He indicated he could work with Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, who he claimed is “willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”

Trump added, “We’re there now, but we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.”

International reactions

The United Nations expressed deep concern over violations of international law. China condemned the US attack, while France said a solution for Venezuela cannot be “imposed from outside.”

Military operation details

The US operation included airstrikes on key military sites and a partial blackout to aid the seizure of Maduro. General Dan Caine said 150 aircraft supported the mission, with helicopters extracting Maduro with no US casualties.

Local residents reported explosions and helicopters at 2:00 a.m., but Caracas was calm within hours, with police stationed outside key buildings and smoke lingering in the streets.

Shifting justifications for action

The US and many European governments did not recognize Maduro’s legitimacy, citing disputed elections in 2018 and 2024. Trump justified the raid by citing Venezuela’s alleged role in drug-related deaths in the US, illegal migration, and the country’s oil reserves.

While some members of Congress questioned the legality of the operation, House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “decisive and justified.”