Trump Claims Authority to Temporarily Run Venezuela After Ousting Maduro

Tue Feb 03 2026 08:15:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a dramatic military operation, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. would manage Venezuela, seizing Nicolás Maduro from power and promising to tap into its oil reserves.

In an unprecedented military action, President Trump announced that the U.S. will temporarily govern Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation involved strategic maneuvers that led to Maduro's removal from the country under the allegation of narco-terrorism. Protests erupted in Caracas, showcasing the nation's divisions as some rallied for Maduro's return while others celebrated his ousting. Trump's administration faces immediate legal scrutiny regarding the operation's legitimacy, with Congress expressing concern over military actions taken without prior approval.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Following a bold U.S. military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from his position as president, President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the United States would temporarily manage Venezuela and utilize its vast oil reserves. Trump's announcement came just hours after Maduro's capture, capping a long-running U.S. pressure campaign against the nation and its leader, marking one of the most forceful American actions toward regime change since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

During a press conference shortly after the operation, Trump discussed plans to enhance the country's oil infrastructure and stated that large quantities of oil would be sold to other nations. The U.S. has accused Maduro, who was taken from his home on a military base, of being involved in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

In response to the capture, Venezuela's vice president urged for Maduro's release, asserting him as the legitimate president of the country. While Maduro and his wife were allegedly aboard a U.S. warship heading to New York for legal proceedings, concerns regarding the legality of the operation started to arise.

Pro-government armed civilians patrol in La Guaira, Venezuela.

The military operation unfolded under the cover of darkness, employing significant aerial activity throughout Caracas, purportedly to minimize civilian casualties. However, the Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of causing harm to citizens during the raid, and protests erupted throughout the nation as media broadcast images of Maduro supporters rallying in response.

Trump, by claiming the authority to oversee Venezuela until a proper transition can be made, illustrated a controversial stance amid bipartisan skepticism in Congress regarding the military's role in foreign interventions without explicit legislative approval.

As events unfolded in Caracas, citizens expressed a range of sentiments. While many supporters of Maduro rallied for his reinstatement and voiced their fear over the U.S. interference, others celebrated in areas such as Doral, Florida, home to a large Venezuelan diaspora.