President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Saturday following what he described as a successful U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling the mission a turning point for both countries and outlining sweeping plans for American control over the South American nation.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump framed the operation as necessary, deliberate, and long planned, saying it was designed to bring an end to what he called a criminal regime and to protect U.S. national interests.
He said the United States would now assume responsibility for governing Venezuela until a new leadership structure could be safely and permanently established.
“We Are Going to Run the Country”
Trump said the U.S. would oversee Venezuela indefinitely during a transitional period, arguing that past attempts to influence change without direct involvement had failed.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump said. “We don’t want to be involved with having someone else get in and repeating the same situation we’ve seen for many years.”
He declined to provide a timeline for how long U.S. control would last, saying only that the United States would remain until officials were confident a future Venezuelan leader would act in the best interests of the population.
Trump said the decision was made personally by him after reviewing intelligence, military assessments, and diplomatic considerations.
Details of the Overnight Operation
Trump described the operation to capture Maduro as a large-scale, highly coordinated mission carried out in the early hours of January 3. He said U.S. forces entered heavily fortified locations in and around Caracas and encountered significant resistance.
“There was a lot of opposition. There was a lot of gunfire,” Trump said. “But our people moved very fast.”
He claimed the military could have killed Maduro during the raid but chose to take him alive instead.
“It could have happened,” Trump said. “He was trying to reach a safe place, but our guys were so fast he didn’t make it.”
Trump emphasized that the operation resulted in no American fatalities, though he acknowledged that some U.S. personnel were injured and later returned safely.
Operation Absolute Resolve
Trump confirmed that the mission was named Operation Absolute Resolve and said it was the result of months of planning and rehearsals.
He praised U.S. special operations forces and military leadership, describing the mission as something only the United States could carry out.
“This was extremely complex,” he said. “There’s nobody else in the world that could have done anything like this.”
Trump said he watched the operation unfold live from a secure room alongside senior military officials.
“I watched it literally like I was watching a television show,” he said. “The speed, the force, the precision — I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Maduro and His Wife Removed From Venezuela
Trump said Maduro and his wife were extracted by helicopter and transported to a U.S. Navy ship, which he said was en route to New York.
“Yes, they’re on a ship,” Trump said. “They’ll be heading into New York.”
He added that both individuals would face criminal charges in the United States, saying they were responsible for widespread corruption, violence, and drug trafficking.
Trump also revealed that he personally spoke with Maduro roughly a week before the operation and offered him a chance to surrender.
“I told him, you have to give up. You have to surrender,” Trump said.
U.S. Plans for Venezuela’s Oil Industry
During his address, Trump outlined plans to authorize major U.S. oil companies to take control of Venezuela’s energy infrastructure, which he described as severely degraded.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” Trump said.
He argued that restoring Venezuela’s oil sector would help stabilize the nation’s economy and eventually benefit its citizens, though he did not provide details on revenue sharing, governance, or labor protections.
Critics immediately raised concerns that the move amounted to resource seizure, while Trump dismissed those accusations, saying the goal was economic recovery.
Administration Says “The Tyrant Is Gone”
Senior administration officials echoed Trump’s remarks following the address, describing the operation as the end of Maduro’s rule.
Vice President JD Vance said the president offered Maduro multiple opportunities to step aside before authorizing the mission, adding that U.S. patience had run out.
Other officials described the moment as a “new dawn” for Venezuela and said the capture of Maduro would allow the country to move toward freedom and stability.
Venezuela Reacts With Anger and Uncertainty
Venezuelan officials responded by condemning the operation and demanding proof of life for Maduro and his wife, saying they do not know their whereabouts.
Defense leaders in Caracas ordered the full deployment of armed forces and declared a state of emergency, calling the U.S. action the most serious aggression the country has ever faced.
Government statements urged citizens to mobilize and resist what they described as foreign intervention.
International Reaction and Condemnation
Trump’s address triggered immediate global reaction. Several governments condemned the U.S. operation as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while others urged restraint and de-escalation.
Some leaders warned that the move could destabilize the region and set a dangerous precedent for international relations. Others suggested that the action, while controversial, might deter authoritarian regimes elsewhere.
Congress Divided Over Legality
In Washington, lawmakers reacted with sharply divided views. Some members of Congress questioned whether Trump had constitutional authority to launch the operation without explicit congressional approval.
Others defended the president, arguing that Maduro’s alleged criminal activity and lack of legitimacy justified decisive action.
The White House has not yet indicated whether Congress was formally consulted in advance of the operation.
An Uncertain Path Forward
Trump’s address left many questions unanswered, including how the United States plans to administer Venezuela, how long American control will last, and what role international organizations may play in the transition.
If Trump’s claims are accurate, the capture of a sitting foreign leader and the declaration that the U.S. will run another country would represent one of the most consequential moments in modern American foreign policy.
For now, Venezuela remains in a state of uncertainty, and the world is watching closely as the implications of Trump’s address — and the operation it described — continue to unfold.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
