Trump says U.S. captured Venezuela’s leader and will “run” the country

President Trump announced from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., that the United States had captured Venezuela’s leader and would “run” the country for an indefinite period. The declaration intensified complaints within a segment of his political base that he has spent too much time on foreign policy.

Critics warned Mr. Trump risked entangling the U.S. in an open-ended conflict; Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted that many in MAGA thought they had voted to end such interventions. Mr. Trump left open the prospect of deployment, saying the United States was “not afraid of boots on the ground” and that a military presence would be maintained “as it pertains to oil,” adding the administration planned to “rebuild the oil infrastructure” and “run it properly.” The Times writers said the operation decapitated the Venezuelan government and suggested continued political intervention, with at least the threat of military backup, and Mr.

Trump said his administration was “prepared to do a second wave” though he called it unnecessary for now. Reactions were mixed: some Venezuelan Americans in Florida celebrated, and several Republicans voiced support after initial questions — Senator Mike Lee later said he believed the action “was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant,” and Senator Mitch McConnell thanked U.S.

personnel. Aides defended the action as consistent with campaign promises by arguing Mr.

Key Topics

Politics, Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, Tren De Aragua, Fentanyl