Trump Announces U.S. Will Temporarily 'Run' Venezuela, Tap Oil Reserves After Dramatic Capture of Maduro

CARACAS/PALM BEACH, Fla. — January 3, 2026

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during an overnight military operation in Caracas. Speaking at a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump declared that the United States would "run" Venezuela temporarily while overseeing its vast oil reserves, marking the most direct U.S. intervention in Latin America in decades.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump told reporters, praising the raid as an "extremely successful operation." He emphasized that major U.S. oil companies would invest billions to repair Venezuela's dilapidated energy infrastructure and extract what he described as "tremendous amounts of wealth out of the ground."

Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves—estimated at over 300 billion barrels—though production has plummeted under Maduro's rule due to sanctions, mismanagement, and economic collapse. Trump insisted the effort "won't cost us a penny," as revenues from revived oil production would reimburse American investments and benefit both nations.

The operation, dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve" by military officials, involved special forces extracting Maduro from a secure location amid airstrikes and explosions reported across the capital. Maduro and his wife were flown out of the country and are en route to New York to face U.S. charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the mission as a precise extraction involving over 150 aircraft.

Trump's remarks drew immediate international backlash. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who declared herself interim leader, condemned the action as "military aggression" and demanded Maduro's return. China called it a violation of sovereignty, while critics like Sen. Bernie Sanders labeled it "rank imperialism" reminiscent of past U.S. interventions.

Domestically, reactions were divided. Some Republicans hailed the move as a bold strike against a "narco-state," while Democrats questioned its legality without congressional approval and warned of potential quagmire.The raid caps months of intensifying pressure on Maduro, including U.S. indictments, oil sanctions, and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels. Trump suggested the U.S. is prepared for further action if needed, stating American forces are "not afraid of boots on the ground."

As Caracas awoke to uncertainty—with pro- and anti-Maduro protests erupting—questions loom over the duration of U.S. involvement and the path to a new Venezuelan government. Trump indicated cooperation with figures like Rodríguez but dismissed opposition leader María Corina Machado as lacking sufficient support.

The developments have global energy markets on edge, with analysts predicting potential shifts in oil supplies if U.S. firms successfully revitalize Venezuela's industry. For now, the U.S. has thrust itself into direct administration of a nation long accused of authoritarianism, raising profound questions about sovereignty, resources, and American power in the hemisphere.

17GEN4.com