Trump says U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until 'safe transition can take place'
President Trump announced the U.S. will govern Venezuela temporarily following a military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro; indictments allege Maduro ran a narco-state and rigged elections.
- On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would oversee Venezuela until a safe transition, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, quoting `We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.`
- U.S. officials said the raid targeted narco‑trafficking leadership and was months in planning with presidential approval and close operational oversight.
- Photographs released by the White House show a blindfolded, restrained Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, while reports described at least seven explosions and multi-branch forces striking Caracas and local sources reported at least 40 killed.
- The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to address the U.S. military operation, while Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs `strongly condemns` the action and U.S. lawmakers cited legal objections.
- Analysts warn a nation of 28 million could face a prolonged U.S. quagmire like Iraq, while Trump said U.S. energy companies would spend `billions` to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector amid unclear oversight plans.
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761 Articles
2026 begins with an increasingly autocratic United States rising on the global stage
Explosions are seen at Fort Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, Jan. 3, 2026. Luis Jaimes/AFP via Getty ImagesThe U.S. military operation in Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, topped off months of military buildup and targeted strikes in the Caribbean Sea. It fulfills President Donald Trump’s claim to assert authoritative control over the Western Hemisphere, articulated in his administration’s 2025 Nation…
Will Marco Rubio take the fall if Venezuela ends in disaster?
When Marco Rubio and Donald Trump first encountered each other as rivals in the 2016 Republican primary, the contrasts could not have been starker. Trump denounced George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq as a disaster, while Rubio defended it with difficulty; the two naturally traded insults. After Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State in 2024, speculation abounded that he would be a mere placeholder, perhaps serving no longer than his predecessor …
Trump Wants Control, Not Change, in Venezuela
Later today, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face federal drugs and weapons charges in a New York courtroom. That’s a sentence no-one imagined they’d be writing just two days ago. But in the early hours of Saturday, US special forces bombed the country’s north, entered the capital Caracas, and besieged the safe house where Maduro was staying before abducting the couple back to the world’s most powerful rogue st…
Did the US Break International Law Capturing Maduro? What Happens Now?
In recent days, global attention has focused on reports that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been captured by US forces and transferred out of Venezuela to face prosecution. Such an operation represents one of […] The post Did the US Break International Law Capturing Maduro? What Happens Now? first appeared on The Expose.
Trump declares US 'in charge' of Venezuela and Maduro goes to court
President Donald Trump's claim that the United States is "in charge" of Venezuela will be underscored Monday when the oil-rich nation's deposed leader is hauled before a New York court, while his successor offers to cooperate.
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