Trump Announces U.S. Will Run Venezuela and Tap Oil After Maduro’s Capture

Updated 2026-01-04 14:23:13+00:00 (12 articles)

Covert Night Raid Seizes Maduro and Cilia Flores U.S. forces entered Caracas under darkness, stormed the couple’s residence on a military base, and extracted them onto a warship before flying them to New York for processing at a DEA office and future detention in Brooklyn [1][2][3][6][7][12]. The Justice Department simultaneously filed a new narco‑terrorism indictment against both leaders, expanding earlier charges [1][12]. Explosions and smoke were reported across the city, with at least seven blasts heard during the 30‑minute operation [1][3][9].

Trump Declares Temporary U.S. Administration and Oil Sale Plan At a Mar‑a‑Lago press conference, President Trump announced that the United States would “run” Venezuela for a limited period, repair its oil infrastructure, and sell large volumes of Venezuelan crude to other nations [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. He framed the move as a safeguard for regional stability and a means to fund the interim administration [5][11]. No U.S. troops were deployed on the ground in Caracas immediately after the announcement [9][10].

Legal Experts and Congress Question Authority of the Incursion Scholars and constitutional lawyers highlighted the absence of explicit congressional authorization, raising concerns about the operation’s legality under U.S. and international law [1][2][3][4][5][6][8][10][11][12]. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers demanded briefings and cited the need for a clear legal basis [1][2][4][12]. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at Colombia’s request to address the sovereignty breach [1][2][3][8][10][12].

Mixed Public Reaction Across Caracas and the Diaspora Streets of Caracas saw simultaneous pro‑government rallies, anti‑U.S. protests, and reports of casualties among civilians and military personnel [1][3][4][9][10][12]. Venezuelan communities in the United States, especially in Doral and South Florida, celebrated by waving flags and chanting, while other diaspora groups condemned the raid [2][5][9]. Power outages and disruptions affected parts of the capital following the explosions [2][4].

Operation Involved Massive Air Assets and Months of Planning General Dan Caine disclosed that more than 150 aircraft from 20 bases, including fighters, bombers, drones, and helicopters, supported the raid [6][7][8][11]. The mission was the culmination of a prolonged internal push led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior defense officials, with rehearsals that even replicated Maduro’s home [5][6][7][8][11].

Sources (12 articles)

Timeline

Jan 2, 2026 – A years‑long internal push inside the Trump administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, culminates in a covert plan to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Officials rehearse the raid for months, studying Maduro’s daily routines, pets and clothing, and even practice the extraction on a replica of his Caracas residence. [2][4][6]

Jan 2‑3, 2026 (overnight) – U.S. forces launch a surprise night operation in Caracas, seizing Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their home on a military base. More than 150 aircraft from 20 bases, supported by helicopters and air cover, transport the couple aboard a U.S. warship and then to a plane bound for New York; Gen. Dan Caine confirms the mission is “meticulously planned” with no U.S. casualties. [5][6][3][7]

Jan 3, 2026 (early morning) – Maduro and Flores land at a Manhattan DEA office, are escorted by federal agents, and are slated for detention in a Brooklyn federal jail while awaiting trial on narco‑terrorism charges. The Justice Department files a new indictment linking the regime to a drug‑trafficking conspiracy. [1][7][10][12]

Jan 3, 2026 (mid‑day) – President Donald Trump holds a news conference at Mar‑a‑Lago and declares, “The United States will run Venezuela… we will tap its oil and sell it to other nations.” He frames the move as a temporary administration to fix oil infrastructure and fund the operation. [1][7][9][11]

Jan 3, 2026 (afternoon) – Trump adds, “We are not afraid of boots on the ground,” signaling that U.S. troops could be deployed in Venezuela if needed, and says a “group” will run the country during the transition. [6][5]

Jan 3, 2026 (evening) – Congress is notified after the raid; Senator Marco Rubio describes the briefing as “trigger‑based” and raises concerns about the lack of prior congressional authorization for the operation. [6]

Jan 3‑4, 2026 – International backlash erupts: the United Nations Security Council schedules an emergency meeting at Colombia’s request; China condemns the incursion as a violation of sovereignty; European leaders call for de‑escalation. Legal scholars question the operation’s legality under international law and note the absence of explicit congressional approval. [1][4][5][8][11][12]

Jan 4, 2026 – Caracas streets host mixed protests—some demonstrators celebrate Maduro’s removal, others rally in his defense—while Venezuelan‑American communities in Doral, Florida, wrap themselves in flags and chant in support of the U.S. action. Power outages and explosions reported during the raid underscore the chaotic aftermath. [1][7][12]

Historical context (2020‑2025) – The raid marks the most assertive U.S. move toward regime change in Venezuela in years, building on a decade of sanctions, diplomatic pressure and occasional covert actions aimed at curbing Maduro’s narco‑terror links. This hardening of policy signals a decisive shift from earlier limited engagement. [3][4][5]