US President Donald Trump has said the United States will temporarily “run Venezuela” after a military operation captured the country’s President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The president confirmed on 3 January 2026 that the US conducted a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the couple would face charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.
Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Mr Trump said the operation was carried out “in conjunction with US law enforcement” and described it as highly successful. He said the US would oversee Venezuela until a safe, proper, and judicious transition could take place.
Trump also indicated that the US was ready for a second, larger strike if necessary but suggested it might not be required. He added that American oil companies would invest billions of dollars in Venezuela to rebuild infrastructure and generate revenue.
The operation has been widely condemned internationally. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to remain calm, saying the world must speak out about the attack. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clarified that the United Kingdom was not involved in the operation.
The military operation comes amid long-standing tensions over drug trafficking and weapons violations, with the US citing Maduro’s alleged involvement in international narco-terrorism as justification. The capture of Maduro and Flores marks a significant escalation in US-Venezuela relations.
