In a stunning and unprecedented move, US forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas and transported them to New York to face criminal charges. The operation involved multiple branches of the US armed forces and has sent shockwaves across the globe.
President Donald Trump announced that Washington would take temporary control of Venezuela to ensure a smooth transition of power. “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago resort. “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.”
US Assumes Interim Leadership
Trump said the US would oversee Venezuela with a designated team, highlighting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine as key figures. He offered few details about the day-to-day management of the country.
At one point, Trump claimed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had been sworn in as Maduro’s successor and was ready to cooperate with US plans. However, Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed this claim.
Trump also emphasized the role of US companies in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies… spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he said, adding that the US was prepared to launch “a second and much larger attack” if needed.
Legal and Political Fallout
US Secretary of State Rubio defended the operation as a law enforcement mission supported by the military that did not require Congressional approval. Maduro, he said, had been indicted in the US in 2020 and was a fugitive with a $50 million reward. Trump noted that Congress had not been informed to prevent potential leaks of the plan.
The move drew sharp criticism from Democrats. Senator Mark Warner warned that allowing the US to abduct foreign leaders could set a dangerous global precedent, potentially inviting similar actions by China, Russia, or other nations. Warner also criticized the administration’s perceived hypocrisy, comparing the Venezuela operation with Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted on US drug trafficking charges.
Support and Uncertain Consequences
Republicans largely praised the operation. Senator Roger Wicker called it a “successful mission” that capped months of efforts to dismantle criminal networks tied to Maduro’s government. He urged the Venezuelan people to work quickly to restore stability and prosperity.
Analysts, however, warned the intervention could destabilize Venezuela further. Daniel DePetris of Defense Priorities noted the potential for splits in the military, expansion of criminal groups, civil conflict, or the rise of a new autocrat. “Whether that change will be positive or negative in the long-term remains to be seen,” he said.
The Trump administration has shifted its justification for action over recent months, citing drug trafficking, reclaiming stolen oil resources, and deposing an authoritarian government. Yet, DePetris cautioned that Venezuela’s regime, while corrupt, presides over a bankrupt state with a collapsing economy, and may not pose the security threat Washington claims.
