Maduro 'Captured', Trump Announces the U.S. Will 'Lead' Venezuela Until Further Notice

On Saturday, January 3rd, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would "lead" Venezuela until a "safe" political transition could occur, following the American operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

"We will run the country until we can establish a safe, appropriate, and sensible transition," said the American president during a press conference in Florida, adding that the U.S. was prepared to launch "a larger second attack if necessary."

Trump also clarified that American oil companies would establish operations in Venezuela. "Our very large American oil companies, the biggest in the world, will go there, spend billions of dollars, repair the severely damaged infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and begin generating revenue for the country," he explained.

"We will manage the country properly"

"Today, there is a void. Who will take over?" the American president questioned, confirming that "the people behind him" would now manage the country "correctly," in "connection with the Venezuelans." He also assured that Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado did not have the necessary "support or respect" to lead Venezuela.

"It will cost us nothing," the billionaire emphasized, not hiding his intention to seize the country's vast oil resources. "A lot of money will come from the ground, so we will be reimbursed," he added, also not ruling out a military presence to "protect" the country's resources.

Donald Trump also assured that no Americans were killed during the capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday morning, who was in "a very well-guarded place, like a fortress." "Two men were injured, but they recovered and are in good shape," he specified.

In a brief statement to the New York Times, he praised the operation as "remarkable," involving "good preparation and many good, fine soldiers," particularly against the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, the largest in Venezuela, south of Caracas, and the Carlota airbase, north of it.

Source: Huffingtonpost/France