The United States (US) will remain in Venezuela until a safe transition is achieved, Donald Trump said. The President gives a press conference following a large-scale U.S. military operation in Caracas for the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Trump framed the continued U.S. presence as necessary to prevent a power vacuum and to ensure long-term stability in the South American country.
The US will remain in Venezuela until a safe transition: Donald Trump
Speaking to the media, the President described the operation as an extraordinary and historic military action carried out in the early hours of January 3, 2026. The U.S. forces executed a rapid and highly coordinated assault on what he called a fortified military site inside the Venezuelan capital. Trump emphasized that the operation was completed without the loss of a single U.S. service member or piece of military equipment.
Donald Trump said Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and removed from Venezuela, adding that both will face justice in the US. He noted that Maduro has already been charged in the Southern District of New York for leading what U.S. authorities describe as a narcoterrorism network known as the Cartel de los Soles.
A safe and democratic transition
Beyond the military aspect, Trump placed strong emphasis on what comes next for Venezuela. He said the United States does not intend to allow another group or individual to seize control in the aftermath of Maduro’s removal. Instead, he stated that the U.S. will temporarily take responsibility for maintaining order while a political transition is organized. According to Trump, this transition must guarantee security, democratic institutions, and fairness for the Venezuelan people.
The president also addressed Venezuela’s prolonged economic collapse, particularly in the energy sector. He said Venezuela, once a major oil producer, has seen its infrastructure fall into ruin and is producing far less than its potential allows. Trump announced that major U.S. oil companies are prepared to invest billions of dollars to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry, with the stated goal of generating wealth and prosperity for the country. However, he confirmed that the U.S. oil embargo on Venezuela remains in effect until a legitimate transition is firmly underway.
Why did the US intervene in Venezuela?
During the press conference, Trump also framed the action within a larger geopolitical context, referencing long-standing U.S. principles in the region. He said the United States is reasserting its role in protecting stability, trade, and security in the hemisphere after decades of neglect that, in his words, allowed hostile forces to entrench themselves in Venezuela.
Trump made clear that the U.S. presence in Venezuela is not intended to be permanent. He said American forces will remain only as long as necessary to guide the country toward a stable and democratic transition. Once those conditions are met, he added, Venezuela will be free to move forward under new leadership chosen by its people.
Concluding his remarks, Trump said the operation sends a clear message to any actor who threatens U.S. sovereignty or regional stability. He described the removal of Maduro as the end of a dictatorship and declared that the Venezuelan people now have an opportunity to rebuild their country under democratic principles, with the support—but not permanent control—of the United States.
