Trump Takes Control of Venezuela After Maduro's Arrest: A New Era in US-Venezuelan Relations

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that there will be no elections in Venezuela over the next 30 days as per the country's laws following a forced leadership change. Instead, the Trump administration will oversee the nation while it works to rebuild its critical oil sector, a task that Trump estimates will take less than 18 months. In light of recent developments, a group of Trump's senior officials will coordinate the Venezuelan government during this period. Trump emphasized that he himself will hold ultimate responsibility for the situation. This announcement came just two days after U.S. military operations captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. On the same day, Maduro appeared in a New York federal court, pleading not guilty to charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses. In an interview with NBC, Trump elaborated on his plans for Venezuela, stating that negotiations have begun with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, signaling that elections are not a priority at this point. "We need to fix the country first. You can't have an election when there’s no way for the people to vote," he said. Notably, Trump dismissed the idea of an opposition-led government, especially under María Corina Machado, a recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Despite acknowledging the opposition's success in the June 2024 elections, he did not support putting Machado in power, suggesting his disappointment in the opposition’s failure to oust Maduro back in 2019 with U.S. backing. A significant focus for Trump's administration will be on rebuilding Venezuela's oil sector, which holds approximately 300 billion barrels of reserves—an economic mainstay that directly impacts U.S. interests. Trump mentioned that this effort would require substantial investment, potentially in the billions of dollars, with U.S. oil companies taking the lead. He suggested that U.S. subsidies could also play a role in these investments, saying, "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 has designated a group of four trusted officials to assist in overseeing this intervention: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, and Vice President JD Vance. He stated, "They have all expertise different expertise. But there should be no doubt about who will be ultimately in charge of this oversight: me." Rodríguez, now leading Venezuela, has reportedly been cooperating with the U.S., although Trump maintained that there were no prior interactions between her and his administration before Maduro's arrest. He did confirm that Rubio has had communication with her. When asked if there was an agreement regarding Maduro's removal, Trump remarked, "Well yeah because a lot of people wanted to make a deal, but we decided to do it this way." During the operation to arrest Maduro, Trump explained that they had considered a second wave of attacks but ultimately did not go that route. He firmly stated that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela but rather with drug traffickers and those contributing to drug-related crimes in America. Despite some criticism regarding his militarized approach without Congressional approval, Trump remains supportive of his base, asserting that they back his actions wholeheartedly. He claimed that his supporters—"MAGA"—are pleased with his handling of the situation: "MAGA loves it. MAGA loves what I'm doing and I love everything I do too." Critics, including some within his party, have pointed out the legality of the military operation, questioning the lack of Congressional authorization. However, Trump's administration insists it is not a military action but a law enforcement initiative against a known drug trafficker. The administration argues that Congress was informed of their plans, though Trump did not provide specific details on what lawmakers were aware of beforehand. This unprecedented move by the Trump administration marks a new chapter in U.S.-Venezuelan relations and raises questions about the future governance of Venezuela, its political dynamics, and the implications for the region's stability. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2