US President Donald Trump said the United States is now effectively “in charge” of Venezuela following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro in a military operation, declaring that Washington would help run the crisis-hit nation until stability is restored, even as he warned that neighbouring Cuba was “ready to fall” and suggested possible action against Colombia.
According to Fox News, Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, amid ongoing questions about who is governing Venezuela after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained during a coordinated US operation in Caracas over the weekend.
Asked directly who was currently running Venezuela, Trump replied that the answer would be “very controversial,” before clarifying, “It means we’re in charge.” He said the United States would oversee Venezuela’s administration, rebuild core institutions and delay national elections until the country was back on a stable footing.
Trump also said he had not personally spoken to newly sworn-in Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, but suggested there was already coordination between US officials and the interim authorities in Caracas.
He described Venezuela as a failed state unable to immediately transition to democratic rule, saying years of economic collapse had left public systems and infrastructure in ruins. Maduro is currently facing US charges linked to narcotics-related conspiracies.
“We’re going to run everything,” Trump said and added, “We’re going to run it, fix it. We’ll have elections at the right time.”
Turning to regional implications, Trump said Cuba could soon face political collapse following Maduro’s arrest, arguing that Havana no longer had access to Venezuelan oil and financial support.
“I think it’s just going to fall. I don’t think we need any action,” Trump said. “Looks like it’s going down for the count,” he was quoted as saying by Fox News.
Cuban authorities, meanwhile, have said that 32 Cuban military and intelligence personnel were killed during the US raid in Venezuela, accusing Washington of violating sovereignty and urging supporters to rally.
Trump also issued a warning to Colombia, describing the country as “very sick,” in what appeared to be a reference to President Gustavo Petro. When asked whether the US might consider a military operation there, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me.”
The remarks come as Latin America’s political order faces fresh uncertainty following Maduro’s arrest, with allies and rival governments watching closely to see how US involvement in Venezuela will evolve in the weeks ahead.
