In an unprecedented move, Donald Trump announced that his government is taking power in Venezuela for now. “We will govern this country until we achieve a safe, appropriate and reasonable transition,” the US president said on Saturday during a press conference at his private Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
This historic announcement followed an overnight attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The special counterterrorism unit Delta Force descended from helicopters on ropes and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores in a military compound. Then, on board a warship, they were transported to the USA, where they are to be tried for “drug terrorism”.
Trump did not provide details on how his government plans to take control of Caracas. “The people behind me will do it,” the Republican said, pointing to cabinet members with him, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
For now, it is unclear how the United States will take control of the Venezuelan government and who will fill the power vacuum in Caracas. Immediately after the attack, expectations arose that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who is currently in exile in an unknown location, could play a key role. Trump, however, rejected this possibility. — I think it would be difficult for her to take over leadership. She has neither support nor respect in the country, he said. — She's a nice woman, but she doesn't get much respect.
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However, it is clear that in announcing this, Trump is acting against his own beliefs. The US president has always sharply criticized the policy of his Republican predecessor George W. Bush, who wanted to bring about “regime change” through military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. — We will stop taking part in overthrowing foreign regimes about which we know nothing and in which we should not interfere, Trump declared already in 2016, when he first ran for president.
During both his first presidential term and the current one, the Republican ordered single, decisive military interventions, however, he categorically ruled out further involvementand even the stationing of American troops in these countries. In March and April, the US military bombed Houthi rebel positions and oil infrastructure in Yemen.
In late June, as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, he ordered the destruction of three Iranian nuclear facilities by B-2 bombers. Just before Christmas, airstrikes were carried out against the ISIS terrorist group in Syria, and on Christmas Day there were airstrikes against Islamist group targets in northwestern Nigeria.
However, the case of Venezuela is different. Trump referred to the historical “Monroe Doctrine” from the 19th century, according to which the United States does not tolerate the influence of European powers in the New World and geopolitically dominates the entire American continent. — In a sense, we have forgotten about this doctrine. We won't forget her again. In fact, we have even exceeded it, he said. The January 3 military attack now rests on the “Donroe Document,” as Trump called his administration's recent actions.
U.S. President Donald Trump (center) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) watch coverage of Operation Absolute Resolve, the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, January 3, 2026.WHITE HOUSE PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT / PAP
In the US national security strategy published in early December, the “Western Hemisphere”, as the Atlantic and America are called in American geopolitical jargon, was given a new, significant role.
In security policy, the emphasis is on the “homeland”. Trump prioritizes the U.S.'s immediate neighborhood and considers it justified to take military action there in the interests of its country's internal security. The American president does not question the fact that specialists in international law consider attacks in the region to be a violation of international rules.
“America First” takes on a new meaning
In the coming days, it should become clear what plans Washington has for the period after Maduro's departure. There may be cooperation with acting Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. Trump said Rodriguez was sworn in as president just before his news conference Saturday, adding that she spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. – It is basically ready to do what we think is necessaryto make Venezuela great again. It's simple, Trump said.
For the president of the United States, it exists high political riskif Venezuela descends into chaos after Maduro's arrest. Trump promises not only the return of freedom and prosperity to Venezuelans. Its voters are also expected to benefit from the largest oil resources in the world, and the country is expected to repay funds that Trump says it owes to the United States.
“We will force our very large American oil companies, the largest in the world, to invest billions of dollars to repair severely damaged oil infrastructure and make money from it,” he said.
The reaction of Republicans in the US Congress was unequivocally positive. However, among his supporters critical voices appear. — If the goal of U.S. military action and regime change in Venezuela was truly to save American lives from drugs, why hasn't the Trump administration taken any action against Mexican cartels? asks former staunch Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Trump will have to quickly provide his “Make America Great Again” supporters with evidence of that unprecedented military attack in Caracas actually means “America First”.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
