Washington, Jan. 3, 2026 — United States President Donald Trump has declared that the US will temporarily “run” Venezuela following a major military operation that resulted in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela until a political transition is completed.
“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.
The announcement came hours after US forces carried out air strikes on Caracas in what the administration described as the culmination of a months-long pressure campaign against Maduro’s government.
Trump said Washington would not hand over control to any interim authority immediately, arguing that previous transition efforts had failed.
“We don’t want to be involved with having somebody else get in and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years,” he said.
Oil, Arrests, and Regime Change
Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife were taken into US custody and are being transferred to New York, where the Venezuelan leader faces longstanding US drug-related charges — allegations Maduro has consistently denied.
The US president also said American oil companies would move swiftly into Venezuela to rehabilitate what he described as the country’s “badly broken” oil infrastructure.
“Very large United States oil companies will go in, fix the infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” Trump said, adding that the intervention would make Venezuelans “rich, independent and safe.”
Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves, a fact critics say has long influenced Washington’s posture toward the country.
Global Backlash and Legal Concerns
The operation has sparked swift international condemnation. Legal experts and several world leaders described the seizure of a sitting head of state as a grave breach of international law.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that the action risks global instability.
“Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability,” Lula said.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Saul, also criticised what he called the “illegal abduction” of Maduro.
Democratic lawmakers in the US echoed those concerns, warning that the action could set a dangerous precedent for unilateral regime change.
Escalating Conflict
The US-Venezuela standoff had intensified in recent months, with Washington seizing Venezuelan oil tankers and carrying out lethal interdictions against vessels accused of drug trafficking — actions widely criticised by human rights groups as extrajudicial.
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, had accused the US of attempting to overthrow his government and seize control of the country’s natural resources.
As of Saturday evening, Venezuela’s military leadership had not issued a formal statement, and protests were reported in parts of Caracas amid uncertainty over the country’s immediate political future.
David Okoroafor - Geopolitics & Foreign Affairs Editor ✔
David Okafor Geopolitical Editor / Foreign Affairs Editor, Naija247news Media Group David Okafor serves as the Foreign Affairs Editor at Naija247news Media Group, bringing over five years of experience in international journalism. Renowned for his investigative reporting and editorial leadership, he provides readers with in-depth analysis of global politics, economic trends, and major international events. A graduate in International Relations, David has a proven track record of delivering accurate, insightful, and impactful coverage, ensuring that Naija247news remains a trusted source for world affairs. His work has earned him respect across the media industry for clarity, integrity, and commitment to excellence.
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