U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily run Venezuela following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro until a new government is established through what he described as a “safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Washington could not risk allowing another leadership group to take control of Venezuela without guarantees that it would act in the interests of the Venezuelan people.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.
Trump Claims Venezuelan Military Had No Time to Respond
Trump stated that Venezuela’s military forces were prepared but said U.S. action was swift enough to prevent any response.
“Venezuela’s military was ready, but we did not give them time to recover,” he said, adding that no U.S. soldiers were injured during the operation.
Trump claimed the initial strike was so effective that a second phase was unnecessary.
“If something had happened, we were ready for a second strike, but the first attack was so effective that there was no need.”
Warnings Issued to Venezuelan Leadership
Trump said the operation had neutralised what he described as threats posed by Maduro, warning Venezuela’s remaining political and military leadership.
“Maduro will no longer be a danger to any American,” he said. “What happened to Maduro could also happen to them.”
He declared Venezuela “a safe country,” though there was no independent confirmation of the security situation on the ground.
Accusations of Criminal Activity and Human Rights Abuses
The U.S. president accused Maduro of leading criminal networks and drug trafficking operations targeting the United States.
“Nicolas was heading a cartel that sent drugs to the United States,” Trump claimed, adding that Maduro and his wife were now in New York.
Trump also alleged widespread human rights abuses by Venezuelan security forces, accusing them of extreme violence against civilians.
U.S. Plans for Venezuela’s Economy and Oil Sector
Outlining U.S. objectives, Trump said Washington aims to restore stability, prosperity, and economic growth in Venezuela.
“We want to see Venezuela thriving and prosperous,” he said, adding that the U.S. seeks a long-term partnership with the country.
Trump announced plans for major U.S. oil companies to operate in Venezuela, saying they would invest billions to repair damaged oil infrastructure.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he said, calling Venezuela’s oil sector “a total bust” for years.
Comments on Migration and U.S. Security
Trump said Venezuelans currently living in the United States would return home once stability is restored.
“The people who are in America will go back to their homes,” he said. “We will make sure this never happens again.”
He also praised security measures in Washington, claiming the presence of the National Guard had eliminated crime in the capital, and reiterated his broader stance on counter-terrorism.
“I will not allow any terrorist to take action against the United States,” Trump said.
No Official Response From Venezuela
As of now, there has been no official response from Venezuelan authorities, and Trump’s claims have not been independently verified by international organizations or observers.
