President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States will administer Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition” following the overnight military strikes that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Speaking at a news conference at his Mar‑a‑Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump described the operation as a “spectacular assault,” involving power from the “air, land and sea” that overwhelmed Venezuelan forces in the capital. He said the U.S. military executed the mission with precision and that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody.
Trump said the United States remains prepared to launch a second, larger wave of strikes if necessary, but that the success of the first wave likely makes further attacks unnecessary. “We’re ready… but we probably don’t have to do a second,” Trump said.
Discussing the future of Venezuela, Trump said U.S. efforts will include rebuilding the country’s crumbling infrastructure, particularly its oil sector. He said major U.S. oil companies would invest billions to restore oil production, creating economic opportunity for Venezuelans and benefiting energy stability.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies… fix the badly broken infrastructure,” Trump told reporters. He framed the initiative as part of a broader plan to make Venezuela “rich, independent and safe,” and to bring relief to Venezuelan Americans who have long suffered under the regime.
Trump repeatedly described Maduro as an “illegitimate dictator” and a “kingpin” in a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking illicit drugs into the United States. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in U.S. courts on multiple charges, including narco‑terrorism and weapons conspiracies. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said.
Trump also linked Venezuela’s alliances with hostile nations and the acquisition of offensive weapons to security threats facing the United States. He asserted that the operation makes the Western Hemisphere safer and serves as a warning to those who would threaten American sovereignty.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s stance, saying “our adversaries remain on notice” and emphasizing that the operation reflects an “America First” approach rooted in strength and deterrence.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained that the operation involved more than 150 aircraft launched across the Western Hemisphere and was months in planning. He said Maduro and Flores surrendered and were taken into custody with cooperation between the Department of Justice and the U.S. military.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that Maduro is not recognized as Venezuela’s legitimate president by the United States or the European Union, and defended the administration’s decision not to notify Congress prior to the operation. Rubio characterized the strike as primarily a law enforcement action to apprehend indicted fugitives with military support.
When asked about the timeline for U.S. administration of Venezuela, Trump said he wants the transition to happen quickly but acknowledged it will take time. He said a limited number of U.S. personnel would be on the ground to support stabilization efforts.
Trump also addressed his communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Maduro “didn’t come up” during their last conversation, but expressing frustration with Putin’s actions globally.
