'Me': Trump stuns with one-word response to who's in charge of Venezuela, vows oil revival before elections

Trump says 'we’re in charge' of Venezuela, prioritises stabilisation and oil revival before elections

• Trump says US will oversee Venezuela's recovery after Maduro's capture
• Elections delayed as US plans to rebuild Venezuela's infrastructure
• US oil firms may fund reconstruction, reimbursed via revenue

Did our AI summary help?

US President Donald Trump has asserted that “We’re in charge” of Venezuela, stressing that the United States will oversee the country’s stabilisation and recovery following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation. Trump said elections will not be held in the near term, arguing that Venezuela’s infrastructure must be rebuilt first.

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said, “We have to fix the country first. You can't have an election if people can't even vote.” He outlined plans for restoring order and reviving the economy, with US oil companies potentially playing a central role in reconstructing the energy sector.

“We have to nurse the country back to health,” Trump said, estimating the process could take less than 18 months. He added that oil companies would fund much of the work and be reimbursed through revenue: “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they'll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”

Trump rejected claims that the US is at war with Venezuela. “No, we're not. We're at war with people who sell drugs. We're at war with people who empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country,” he said.

Asked who is ultimately in charge, Trump gave a one-word answer: “Me.” He confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained strong communication with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has been cooperating with US authorities. Trump added that a second military operation is possible if cooperation fails but does not expect it will be needed.

Meanwhile, shots were fired near the Miraflores presidential palace, and drones were spotted, prompting a security response. Trump emphasised that stabilisation efforts will include reviving Venezuela’s oil production, noting, “Having a Venezuela that’s an oil producer is good for the United States because it keeps the price of oil down.”