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Trump declares US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro capture
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States is now effectively running Venezuela after a military operation that led to the arrest of the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, who were taken to the US to face criminal charges, according to reports.
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump avoided directly answering questions about whether he had contacted Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was appointed acting president by Venezuela’s top court a day earlier.
"We're dealing with the people who just got sworn in. Don't ask me who’s in charge because I'll give you an answer and it'll be very controversial," he said.
When reporters pressed him to clarify, Trump responded bluntly: "We’re in charge."
He said Washington requires unrestricted access inside Venezuela, particularly to its energy resources, arguing that such access is necessary to stabilize and rebuild the country.
"We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country," he said when asked what he expects from Rodriguez.
Trump warned that Rodriguez would face severe consequences if she refuses to cooperate with the United States, saying she “will face a situation probably worse than Maduro.”
He also said major US oil corporations would be tasked with restoring Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure, claiming they would invest billions of dollars without financial support from the US government.
"The big oil companies (are) going to go in and they’re going to fix the infrastructure. They’re going to invest money. We’re not going to invest anything. We’re going to just take care of the country," he said.
Trump further stated that numerous Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during the early Saturday raid.
"No deaths on our side, but there was a lot of death on the other side, unfortunately. But a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday trying to protect him," he added.
According to reports, the death toll from the US military operation has climbed to 80 and could increase further, citing information from a senior Venezuelan official.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York late Saturday and are being held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn. They are facing US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged collaboration with criminal groups designated as terrorist organizations.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, while officials in Caracas have demanded the release of both him and his wife.
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump avoided directly answering questions about whether he had contacted Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was appointed acting president by Venezuela’s top court a day earlier.
"We're dealing with the people who just got sworn in. Don't ask me who’s in charge because I'll give you an answer and it'll be very controversial," he said.
When reporters pressed him to clarify, Trump responded bluntly: "We’re in charge."
He said Washington requires unrestricted access inside Venezuela, particularly to its energy resources, arguing that such access is necessary to stabilize and rebuild the country.
"We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country," he said when asked what he expects from Rodriguez.
Trump warned that Rodriguez would face severe consequences if she refuses to cooperate with the United States, saying she “will face a situation probably worse than Maduro.”
He also said major US oil corporations would be tasked with restoring Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure, claiming they would invest billions of dollars without financial support from the US government.
"The big oil companies (are) going to go in and they’re going to fix the infrastructure. They’re going to invest money. We’re not going to invest anything. We’re going to just take care of the country," he said.
Trump further stated that numerous Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro were killed during the early Saturday raid.
"No deaths on our side, but there was a lot of death on the other side, unfortunately. But a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday trying to protect him," he added.
According to reports, the death toll from the US military operation has climbed to 80 and could increase further, citing information from a senior Venezuelan official.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York late Saturday and are being held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn. They are facing US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged collaboration with criminal groups designated as terrorist organizations.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, while officials in Caracas have demanded the release of both him and his wife.
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