One day after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning surprise attack, the country faces an uncertain future. Maduro’s removal marks the most assertive American-led regime change effort since the invasion of Iraq more than two decades ago. Maduro and his wife are now being held in New York, where they’re facing narco-terrorism charges.President Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. will run Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”Trump said senior members of his administration, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, would assist in that effort.Trump signaled a willingness to work with Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was tapped as the country’s interim leader on Saturday. Rodríguez demanded freedom for Maduro but left the door open for “respectful relations” with the U.S. during remarks on Saturday.Trump said he didn’t think additional military force would be necessary, but he didn’t rule out a role for U.S. troops. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” Trump said.The Trump administration is facing widespread backlash from Democrats. They questioned the legality of the operation, which was not approved by Congress, and warned of chaos in the region. “This is illegal, it’s unjustified, it is not in our national interest, and there seems to be no plan whatsoever for what happens next,” said Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.Rep. Jake Auchincloss, another Democrat from Massachusetts, added, “This is blood for oil. It’s got nothing to do with narco-trafficking.” Trump also said Saturday that he plans to tap into Venezuela’s oil reserves to sell to other nations, raising more legal questions. Brian Fonseca, director of Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, said that would give the Trump administration economic leverage. “The United States will essentially own Venezuela’s economic lifeline and thereby have the ability to influence the political outcomes in Venezuela,” Fonseca said. The debate will be in focus on Capitol Hill as Congress returns from its holiday break. Democrats are demanding immediate briefings from the Trump administration. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the administration is working to schedule them sometime this week. The Senate is also expected to vote on another effort to block U.S. forces from being used against Venezuela without authorization from lawmakers. Video below: President Donald Trump’s full comments on Venezuela strike and Nicolas Maduro capture
One day after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning surprise attack, the country faces an uncertain future.
Maduro’s removal marks the most assertive American-led regime change effort since the invasion of Iraq more than two decades ago. Maduro and his wife are now being held in New York, where they’re facing narco-terrorism charges.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. will run Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
Trump said senior members of his administration, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, would assist in that effort.
Trump signaled a willingness to work with Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was tapped as the country’s interim leader on Saturday. Rodríguez demanded freedom for Maduro but left the door open for “respectful relations” with the U.S. during remarks on Saturday.
Trump said he didn’t think additional military force would be necessary, but he didn’t rule out a role for U.S. troops.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” Trump said.
The Trump administration is facing widespread backlash from Democrats. They questioned the legality of the operation, which was not approved by Congress, and warned of chaos in the region.
“This is illegal, it’s unjustified, it is not in our national interest, and there seems to be no plan whatsoever for what happens next,” said Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, another Democrat from Massachusetts, added, “This is blood for oil. It’s got nothing to do with narco-trafficking.”
Trump also said Saturday that he plans to tap into Venezuela’s oil reserves to sell to other nations, raising more legal questions.
Brian Fonseca, director of Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, said that would give the Trump administration economic leverage.
“The United States will essentially own Venezuela’s economic lifeline and thereby have the ability to influence the political outcomes in Venezuela,” Fonseca said.
The debate will be in focus on Capitol Hill as Congress returns from its holiday break. Democrats are demanding immediate briefings from the Trump administration. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the administration is working to schedule them sometime this week.
The Senate is also expected to vote on another effort to block U.S. forces from being used against Venezuela without authorization from lawmakers.
Video below: President Donald Trump’s full comments on Venezuela strike and Nicolas Maduro capture
