US President Donald Trump Says US Is ‘In Charge’ Of Venezuela After Capture Of Nicolás Maduro

President Donald Trump has declared that the United States has assumed effective authority over Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. He said the country would be placed on a path to recovery under US oversight before any elections are organised.

The US President also warned that further American military action remains a possibility if officials in Caracas fail to comply.

Addressing reporters while travelling aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump said the mission to detain Nicolás Maduro carried serious risks. He said US helicopters came under intense hostile fire during the operation.

“It was a very dangerous operation,” Trump stated.

The US President further added that one helicopter sustained damage, but confirmed that all US personnel returned without loss of life.

“We got everything back and nobody killed,” the US President asserted.

When pressed on who currently holds power in Venezuela, Trump refused to identify an interim authority and instead pointed to US control.

“Don’t ask me who’s in charge,” he said. “It means we’re in charge.”

President Warns of Further Military Action

The US President noted that he has not spoken directly with Venezuela’s newly sworn-in leader, Delcy Rodríguez, although members of his administration have been in contact. He said cooperation was ongoing but cautioned that it was conditional.

“If they don’t behave, we will do a second strike,” he said, adding that US forces had been prepared to act again.

On the question of elections, Trump said a vote would only be possible once order and stability had been restored. He described Venezuela as effectively non-functional and said reconstruction must come first.

President Trump said the rebuilding effort would be driven by private-sector investment, with US oil companies expected to play a central role. He painted a bleak picture of the country’s infrastructure, describing widespread decay and unusable facilities, including pipelines lying exposed.

The US President noted that major firms were keen to enter Venezuela.

“They want to go in so badly,” Trump remarked, while stressing that the US government would not finance the effort.

He added, “We’re not going to invest anything.”

The US President also emphasised that Venezuelans living in the United States who fled the country would be supported and treated fairly.

Lindsey Graham Praises Military Operation

Later, Senator Lindsey Graham praised the operation. He described it as one of the most complex missions ever carried out by the US military.

Graham compared it to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. He said Venezuela had become what he called a ‘drug caliphate’ close to the United States.

Trump said maritime drug trafficking from Venezuela had already been sharply reduced.

“Drugs by sea are down 97 per cent,” he said, adding that enforcement efforts would now shift more heavily towards land routes.

In closing, Trump rejected claims that the intervention was motivated by oil interests or a desire for regime change.

“It’s about peace on earth,” he concluded. “It’s our hemisphere.”