By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Saturday morning following the capture and extradition of Venezuelan leader and suspected narcotrafficker Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after a joint U.S. military and law enforcement operation.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said the United States will assume control of Venezuela until the country is prepared for a transition of power. He also suggested that Cuba, another authoritarian government in the region, could face similar pressure in the future.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided operational details before Trump took questions from the press.
U.S. to Govern Venezuela During Transition
Trump made clear that Maduro’s capture marks the beginning—not the end—of U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump said. He added that Washington does not want to allow another unstable or hostile government to take power.
The president acknowledged that maintaining order could require U.S. troops on the ground and said his administration is already consulting with individuals who could form a transitional government.
“We’re designating various people, and we’re going to let you know who those people are that would run Venezuela,” Trump said.
He noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently spoke with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, describing her as willing to cooperate with U.S. plans for the country.
“The biggest beneficiaries will be the people of Venezuela,” Trump said.
Oil Industry Central to U.S. Strategy
Trump said Venezuela’s vast oil reserves will play a key role in rebuilding the country and generating revenue. He announced that major U.S. oil companies would invest billions of dollars to repair and modernize Venezuela’s deteriorated oil infrastructure.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he said.
Trump said improved infrastructure would significantly boost production, allowing Venezuela to sell oil in much larger quantities. He confirmed that the United States plans to sell Venezuelan oil to foreign nations, including major buyers.
Venezuela holds one of the world’s largest oil reserves, and its exports have long played a role in global energy markets, including sales to China. Trump said oil exports would now be used to strengthen U.S. geopolitical leverage.
U.S. Forces Ready for Further Action
Roughly 12,000 sailors and Marines remain deployed in the region as part of Operation Southern Spear, led by the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship. It marks the largest U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean in decades.
Trump warned that the military is prepared to escalate if necessary.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to,” he said. “We are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so.”
He added that while planners initially expected a second wave of operations, the success of the initial assault may make it unnecessary.
“Our presence will be in oil, in taking oil out of the ground,” Trump said.
Operation Approved by Trump
Trump said he personally authorized the operation and emphasized that similar actions would continue if American lives or sovereignty are threatened.
“I will never allow terrorists and criminals to operate with impunity against the United States,” he said.
The president approved the mission at 10:46 p.m. on Jan. 2. U.S. forces reached Maduro’s compound shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 3 and extracted Maduro and his wife by 3:29 a.m.
Gen. Caine described a complex, highly coordinated mission involving more than 150 aircraft and assets from the Space Force, Navy, Marines, and intelligence agencies.
‘A Spectacular Assault’
Trump called the operation “a spectacular assault,” saying its scale and precision had not been seen since World War II. The mission, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved extensive joint-force coordination and rehearsals.
Caine said the timing was chosen carefully to minimize civilian harm while maximizing surprise. Despite weather challenges and enemy fire, U.S. forces successfully disabled Venezuelan air defense systems and extracted Maduro as he attempted to flee.
One U.S. helicopter was hit but remained operational.
No U.S. Casualties Reported
Caine confirmed that no American troops were killed and no equipment was lost during the mission. All aircraft returned safely.
“Our forces remain in the region at a high state of readiness,” he said, praising the professionalism of U.S. service members and their families.
Maduro ‘Had His Chances’
Trump administration officials said the operation followed years of pressure on Maduro, including sanctions, an oil blockade, and repeated warnings. Maduro has denied involvement in drug trafficking.
“Nicolás Maduro had his chance,” Hegseth said, comparing the situation to other regimes that ignored U.S. warnings.
Vice President JD Vance echoed the message online, saying Trump offered multiple opportunities for de-escalation but made clear that drug trafficking and oil theft would not be tolerated.
Monroe Doctrine and Regional Warning
Trump linked the operation to his broader strategy of enforcing a revised Monroe Doctrine, which he calls the “Trump Corollary,” asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and limiting foreign influence.
Under this framework, the administration argues it can authorize military action against non-state actors and illegitimate regimes without declaring war.
Cuba Under Scrutiny
Rubio suggested Cuban officials should be concerned following the Venezuela operation, accusing Havana of propping up Maduro’s security apparatus.
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned,” Rubio said.
Trump confirmed that Cuba is being closely monitored, describing the country as a “failing nation” and saying the United States wants to help its people.
Earlier Saturday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the operation and called for international opposition, labeling Maduro’s capture a “criminal attack.”
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