President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will temporarily oversee Venezuela following a US military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, as Washington moves to manage what it calls a “safe and orderly transition” of power in the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Trump said the United States would effectively “run” Venezuela until conditions are in place for a “proper and judicious transition,” signalling a direct American role in shaping the country’s immediate political future.
Trump said the operation, which involved coordinated military and law enforcement actions, was carried out without any US casualties. He warned that the United States is prepared to launch a second, “much larger” military strike if necessary.
Just before addressing the press, Trump shared an image he claimed showed Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, blindfolded and wearing ear protection. Earlier, US authorities in New York announced indictments against Maduro on drug trafficking and weapons-related charges, with the US attorney general saying the Venezuelan leader would “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil.”
Venezuela’s government declared a national emergency in response, condemning what it described as “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States.
Trump issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s political and military elite, saying the fate that befell Maduro could also apply to others who resist US actions. He declared that “the Venezuelan people are free again,” adding that the United States is now a “safer” and “prouder nation.”
The president then handed over to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who described the mission as a “massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed.” Hegseth said Maduro “had his chance,” but failed to act, framing the operation as decisive and unavoidable.
Trump, long a critic of the US-led invasion of Iraq, portrayed the Venezuela operation as a demonstration of “overwhelming military power,” calling it “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.”
According to Trump, the mission achieved its objectives, including the capture of Maduro and his wife, without the loss of US personnel or equipment. The White House has not yet outlined a clear timeline or framework for Venezuela’s political transition, but Trump’s remarks suggest Washington intends to play a central governing role in the interim period.