Washington/Caracas: In a dramatic escalation of U.S. involvement in Venezuela, President Donald Trump on Saturday said Washington would temporarily take charge of the South American nation and move quickly to revive and utilise its oil sector, following the overnight removal of President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Speaking just hours after Maduro and his wife were seized in a covert military operation and flown out of Venezuela, Trump described the move as an opportunity to “stabilise” the country and unlock its vast energy potential. He said the United States planned to repair Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and sell “large quantities” of crude to global markets.
The operation marked the culmination of months of secret planning and sustained pressure by the Trump administration, representing the most forceful U.S.-backed regime change effort since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Legal scholars, however, immediately questioned the legitimacy of the action, which was carried out without explicit approval from the U.S. Congress.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denounced the operation as illegal and demanded Maduro’s release, declaring him the nation’s rightful leader. Shortly afterward, Venezuela’s top court ordered Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president, though she initially resisted the move on state television, insisting Maduro remained president.
Maduro Taken to the US
According to U.S. officials, Maduro and his wife were apprehended at a military base residence and transported to a U.S. warship before being flown to the United States to face charges. A plane carrying the former leader landed Saturday afternoon at an airport north of New York City. He was later transferred by helicopter to Manhattan and taken under heavy security to a Drug Enforcement Administration facility.
Images released by the White House showed Maduro in custody, smiling as he was escorted by federal agents. He is expected to remain detained at a federal jail in Brooklyn while awaiting trial. The U.S. Justice Department unveiled a fresh indictment accusing Maduro and his wife of running what it described as a corrupt regime sustained by narcotics trafficking.
‘We’re Going to Run the Country’
At a news conference in Florida, Trump said the United States was already stepping in to manage Venezuela during a transition period. “We’re going to run the country until there’s a safe and proper handover,” he said, framing the operation as both a national security measure and a warning to adversaries.
Despite Trump’s claims, there were no immediate signs of U.S. administrative control on the ground. Venezuelan state television continued broadcasting pro-government messages and live footage of demonstrations in support of Maduro.
The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of presiding over a “narco-state” and flooding the U.S. with illegal drugs. Officials argued that removing him would curb trafficking and allow for economic restructuring, including greater American influence over Venezuela’s oil reserves — the largest in the world.
Explosions and Street Unrest
The extraction unfolded before dawn on Saturday, accompanied by explosions and low-flying aircraft over Caracas. Residents reported at least seven blasts, power outages in some areas, and heavy military movement. Venezuelan officials said both civilian and military sites were hit, calling the attack an act of imperial aggression.
The assault reportedly lasted under half an hour. Rodríguez said Venezuelan civilians and soldiers were killed, without providing figures. Trump acknowledged some U.S. troops were injured but said none had died.
Video footage verified by international media showed smoke rising from a military base and explosions lighting up the night sky. In some neighbourhoods, people poured into the streets in fear, while others later gathered to protest or celebrate Maduro’s removal.
Domestic and International Fallout
The events triggered sharply divided reactions. In Caracas, ruling-party supporters rallied, chanting for Maduro’s return, while other parts of the city remained quiet and tense. Power outages persisted in some districts.
Abroad, celebrations broke out among Venezuelan expatriates in Florida, where crowds waved flags and chanted slogans calling for freedom.
Meanwhile, questions mounted over the legality of the operation. Members of the U.S. Congress from both parties raised concerns about the absence of authorisation for military action. Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, demanded an urgent briefing and questioned the legal basis for the intervention.
At the international level, Colombia requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which is expected to convene to discuss the U.S. actions in Venezuela.
As the situation continues to unfold, uncertainty looms over Venezuela’s political future, regional stability, and the broader implications of Washington’s decision to directly intervene and temporarily govern a foreign nation.
