'America will run Venezuela for now', Trump announced after Maduro's arrest (photo generated with AI)
Digital Desk, Washington. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that US special forces launched a large-scale military assault on Venezuela, arresting President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and taking them out of the country. Trump told a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida that the United States would govern Venezuela until a "safe, just and prudent" transfer of power is achieved.
Trump said that we will run the country until we have a safe and proper transfer of power. We do not want someone else to come to power and we have to face the same old problems again. So we will run the country." He talked about sending American oil companies to repair Venezuela's damaged oil infrastructure and increase production, which would earn the country "billions of dollars."
According to US officials, the operation began early Saturday. At least seven powerful explosions occurred in Caracas, as planes were seen flying at low altitude. Smoke was seen rising from Fort Tiuna military complex and other bases.
Delta Force special units arrested the Maduro couple at their residence and took them to the US warship USS Iwo Jima. Trump posted a photo of Maduro on Truth Social, showing him blindfolded and handcuffed.
The US Justice Department issued a new indictment, charging Maduro and his wife with a "narco-terrorism conspiracy." He will be tried in New York.
At the press conference, Trump said that the US already has a strong presence in Venezuela and that big oil companies will repair the infrastructure. He described it as a "partnership" that would make Venezuelans "wealthy, free and secure." No timeline or legal framework was specified. Trump mentioned preparations for a second military action, but said the success of the first one did not necessitate it.
The action came after months of rising tensions
The action comes after months of escalating tensions, in which the US described Venezuela as a hub for drug trafficking and increased naval deployment in the Caribbean. In 2025, the US attacked dozens of suspected drug ships.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded Maduro's "life proof" and described it as a "kidnapping". The Defense Minister condemned the "attack". Opposition leader María Corina Machado (2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate) has maintained silence, but some opposition sources described it as a "negotiated agreement".