Press Conference on Venezuela Strike: Trump says U.S. will temporarily run Venezuela after capturing Maduro. Details on the “flawless” military operation, plans for oil, and threat of a second attack.
Trump: U.S. to ‘Run’ Venezuela After Capturing Maduro (Image: File)
President Donald Trump declared the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro a historic success and announced the United States will temporarily administer Venezuela to ensure a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power.
President Trump stated the United States is “going to run” Venezuela until it can oversee a secure transfer of power. “We're going to run the country until such a time that we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” he said at a Mar-a-Lago news conference. He indicated this was to prevent a return to the previous political situation and to deliver “peace, liberty, and justice” to Venezuelans.
Trump called the mission “extraordinary” and “one of the most stunning… displays of American military might.” He detailed an assault by “air, land and sea” against a “heavely fortified military fortress” in Caracas. “All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless,” he said, noting U.S. forces turned off the city's lights using “a certain expertise.” He reported no U.S. casualties or equipment lost.
The president warned the U.S. is prepared to launch a “second and much larger attack” on Venezuela if necessary. He revealed planners had assumed a second wave would be needed, but the initial operation's success made it “probably not” required now. He directed a warning to Venezuelan political and military figures, stating what happened to Maduro “could happen to them.”
Trump outlined an immediate economic focus on Venezuela's oil sector, which he called “a total bust.” He stated, “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies… go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure… and start making money for the country.” He predicted this partnership would make the Venezuelan people “rich, independent and safe.”
Trump confirmed Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are aboard a ship heading to New York to face justice. “Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for their campaign of deadly narco-terrorism,” he said. A decision on trying them in New York or Miami “will be made soon.” Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called the capture a “massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed.”
A: President Trump stated the U.S. will administer the country only until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power can be arranged.
A: Trump said no U.S. service members were killed and no U.S. military equipment was destroyed.
A: Preventing a return to the former political regime and guaranteeing stability for a future transition are the declared objectives.
A: Trump said major U.S. oil companies will enter Venezuela to invest billions in fixing infrastructure and restarting production.
A: Trump stated the U.S. is “ready” to stage a second, larger attack if needed, though he now believes it is unlikely.
