U.S. Forces Capture Nicolás Maduro; Trump Says America Will "Run" Venezuela

The U.S. military captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a swift strike on Caracas early Saturday and was transporting him to New York to face criminal charges. At a news conference later, President Trump said the United States would "run the country" until a proper transition of power could be arranged, but offered few details and did not specify whether that would include an occupation of Venezuela.

He added he was not afraid of "boots on the ground." By midday there were no obvious signs of a U.S. military presence in Venezuela as residents began assessing damage from American airstrikes and a ground incursion that led to Mr. Maduro's capture. Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in at a secret ceremony as interim president.

In a televised address she rejected the U.S. intervention and insisted that Mr. Maduro remained the country's legitimate leader. State television broadcast rallies and protests across several cities, and Mr. Maduro's supporters vowed to defend the country from what they called an illegal attack and the kidnapping of their leader.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado urged that her political ally, Edmundo González, be recognized immediately. Mr. Trump declined to endorse either Ms. Rodríguez or Ms. Machado, saying Ms. Machado did not have the support to lead and that his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had spoken with Ms.

Key Topics

World, Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump, Delcy Rodríguez, María Corina Machado, United States Military