U.S. President Donald Trump sayd Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has been flown out of the country and will face charges in the United States.

Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela temporarily until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power can take place.

He defended the action as necessary to ensure regional stability and claimed no U.S. service members were killed during the operation, though Venezuela reported explosions and unrest in Caracas early Saturday.

The operation, which U.S. officials described as involving elite forces and precision strikes, swiftly neutralised Venezuelan military capacities and resulted in Maduro and his wife being taken into custody. Trump posted a photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, blindfolded, as evidence of the capture. Venezuelan authorities have demanded proof of life for the detained leaders.

Trump also signalled that American oil companies would enter Venezuela to repair infrastructure and generate revenue during the interim U.S. administration, and said Washington was prepared for a possible second phase of military action if needed.

The international response has been swift and critical: Brazil’s president condemned the U.S. strikes as crossing an “unacceptable line”, while other governments and the United Nations have raised concerns about sovereignty and international law. Venezuela declared a national state of emergency, denouncing the U.S. strikes as “military aggression.”

The United States had carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela early Saturday, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

There is currently an air of uncertainty amidst global debate over the legal and diplomatic implications of the U.S. intervention.
NIM