US will run Venezuela until ‘safe, proper and judicious transition’, says Trump

US takes control pending transition

President Donald Trump said the United States would effectively run Venezuela following an overnight military operation in Caracas, declaring Washington would remain in control until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be achieved.

Speaking after the operation, Trump said the assault involved overwhelming American power by air, land and sea and targeted the heart of the Venezuelan capital, neutralising the country’s military capabilities.

“The American military power was overwhelming,” Trump said, adding that “no nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday”.

According to Trump, US forces struck a “heavily fortified military fortress” in central Caracas as part of an operation to bring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to justice. He said the attack rendered all Venezuelan military capabilities “powerless”.

Trump compared the strike to previous US military operations against Iran, including attacks on nuclear targets, and suggested the level of sophistication displayed was unmatched globally.

He also claimed that electricity across Caracas was cut during the operation, saying the blackout was caused “due to a certain expertise” possessed by the United States.

In his remarks, Trump said both Maduro and his wife now “face American justice”. He said they have been indicted in the southern district of New York for a “campaign of deadly narco-terrorism” against the United States and its citizens.

The US president did not provide further details on Maduro’s whereabouts or the immediate next steps for governance in Venezuela. However, he made clear that Washington intends to remain in control of the country for the time being.

“We are going to run Venezuela until such a time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.

The comments mark a dramatic escalation in US involvement in Venezuela and signal a direct assertion of American authority over the country’s political future following the military operation in Caracas.