Trump says US will be ‘very strongly involved’ in Venezuela’s oil industry after military attack | Donald Trump

Donald Trump has vowed that the United States will “run” Venezuela until there is an orderly transition of power, but has provided few details after ousting the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a bold military attack.

Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, the president hailed a nighttime operation that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as “an assault like people haven’t seen since World War II.”

But the dramatic intervention was condemned by Democrats on Capitol Hill and by several world leaders as the most dangerous example of American imperialism since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Trump, who campaigned for the presidency on a promise to end foreign wars, did nothing to allay those fears when he told reporters that the United States would temporarily take control of Venezuela and its oil infrastructure.

“We will lead the country until we can make a safe, appropriate and wise transition,” the president said. “We cannot take the risk of someone else taking over Venezuela without having the good of the Venezuelan people in mind…We will manage it, essentially, until a proper transition can take place.”

Maduro, a 63-year-old former bus driver chosen by the dying Hugo Chávez to succeed him in 2013, accused the United States of seeking to take control of his country’s oil reserves, the largest in the world.

At his press conference, Trump said, “We’re going to see our very large American oil companies, the largest in the world, come in, spend billions of dollars, repair the badly damaged infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country and we’re prepared to mount a second, much bigger attack if necessary.” »

It remains unclear exactly how Trump plans to administer Venezuela. Despite the nighttime operation that cut power to part of Caracas and captured Maduro in or near one of his hideouts, U.S. forces have no control over the country itself, and Maduro’s government still appears in control.

Trump said the United States would rule Venezuela “with a group” and “designate various people” responsible, while pointing the finger at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine behind him.

He did not give details but said he was open to the idea of ​​sending American forces to Venezuela. “We’re not afraid of troops on the ground if necessary. We had troops on the ground last night at a very high level, in fact. We’re not afraid of that. We don’t mind saying it, but we’re going to make sure this country runs smoothly. We’re not doing it in vain,” the president said.

A U.S. occupation “won’t cost us a dime” because the United States would be repaid with “money coming out of the ground,” Trump said, referring to Venezuela’s oil reserves.

But the remarks are likely to sow dismay among some of Trump’s die-hard supporters who, haunted by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, have embraced his “America First” pledge to stop sending troops to fight and die abroad.

Trump also said Rubio had been in contact with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was reportedly sworn in after Maduro’s capture. “We will do whatever you need,” Rodriguez quoted Trump as saying. “She really has no choice,” he added.

Maduro was indicted in U.S. federal court in 2020 on narcoterrorism and other charges for running what prosecutors called a scheme to send tons of cocaine to the United States through an alleged Los Soles cartel. He has always denied these allegations.

Before the attack, Trump had called for a blockade of Venezuelan oil and expanded sanctions against the Maduro government, and staged more than two dozen strikes on ships that the United States said were involved in drug trafficking, killing more than 110 people.

On Saturday around 2 a.m., explosions rocked Caracas with explosions, planes and black smoke for about 90 minutes. The Venezuelan government said the attacks also took place in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

The operation involved a joint force of more than 150 aircraft and special operations teams, and was executed without any U.S. casualties or loss of equipment. Arresting forces arrived at Maduro’s compound and came under fire, responding with “overwhelming force.” Maduro was captured trying to reach a steel-reinforced safe, but was unable to close the door in time.

Maduro and his wife had been flown by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean, before their transfer to New York. Trump said: “Illegitimate dictator Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network…responsible for the deaths of countless Americans. Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and be tried on American soil.”

The United States has not carried out such direct intervention in its region since invading Panama 37 years ago to depose military leader Manuel Noriega based on similar allegations.

Venezuela’s ruling “Chavismo” movement, named for Maduro’s revered predecessor Hugo Chávez, said civilians and soldiers died in Saturday’s strikes but did not give figures.

The opposition, led by recent Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, made no immediate comment but has been saying for 18 months that it won the 2024 elections and has the democratic right to take power.

But Trump said Machado did not have “the support or respect within the country” when asked if she would now be a potential interim leader.

Saturday’s news conference in Florida struck a triumphalist tone. Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, said: “Nicolás Maduro had his chance, just like Iran had his chance – until they didn’t and until he didn’t. He took a look around and he found out.”

Rubio insisted that it had not been practical to inform Congress in advance of such a delicate operation. But Democrats strongly condemned this intervention. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said: “The idea that Trump plans to rule Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans. The American people have seen this before and paid a devastating price.”

Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, said Trump and his administration “have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. This is imperialism, pure and simple. It recalls the darkest chapters of US interventions in Latin America, which left a terrible legacy. This will and should be condemned by the democratic world.”

Venezuela’s allies Russia, Cuba and Iran were quick to criticize the strikes as a violation of their sovereignty. Argentina’s President Javier Milei welcomed Venezuela’s new “freedom”, while Mexico condemned the intervention and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said it crossed “an unacceptable line”.