US President Donald Trump provided key details about the recent military operation in Venezuela and outlined plans for governing and reconstructing the country. In his speech, Trump emphasized that the US will keep an eye on Venezuela until a safe and orderly political transition can be ensured.
Trump highlighted the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, the scale and precision of the operation, the deployment of US forces on the ground and the role of major US oil companies in rebuilding Venezuela’s infrastructure.
Below are key takeaways from US President Donald Trump’s speech regarding the recent military operation in Venezuela and the country’s future governance.
The US will “manage” Venezuela until a safe transition
President Trump said the United States will administer Venezuela until a safe and orderly political transition can be achieved.
“We will run the country until we are able to make a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said.
“We want peace, freedom and justice for the great people of Venezuela, including many from Venezuela who now live in the United States and want to return to their country. It is their homeland.”
“We can’t risk someone else taking over Venezuela who doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind. We have decades to do that. We won’t let that happen.”
Trump added that the US will run the country with a designated team, including advisers and military leaders.
“We’re going to run it with the group and make sure it runs right,” he said.
“We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, which is going to cost billions of dollars, paid directly to the oil companies. And we’re going to keep the oil flowing the way it’s supposed to.”
Maduro captured ‘In the dead of night’
Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured during a nighttime airstrike that neutralized the country’s military.
“All of Venezuela’s military capabilities were powerless. The men and women of our military working with US law enforcement agencies successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night.”
“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were mostly out. It was dark and it was deadly.”
Maduro and his wife will now face justice in the United States, Trump said.
“Air, land and sea were used” in the operation
Trump described the operation as a historic display of US military power.
“Late last night and early this morning, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela that overwhelmed American military power.”
“Air, land and sea were used to launch a spectacular attack. And it was an attack the likes of which people had not seen since World War II.”
“It was one of the most spectacular, effective, and powerful displays of American military power and competence in American history.”
No American casualties
Trump emphasized the success of the operation and the lack of American casualties.
“No nation in the world has been able to achieve what America achieved yesterday, or frankly, in a short period of time, all of Venezuela’s military capabilities have been put out of power.”
“Not a single member of the U.S. military was killed and not a single piece of American equipment was lost. We had many helicopters, many planes, many, many people involved in that fight.”
Caracas was plunged into darkness during the raid
Trump described the secretive and deadly operation.
“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were largely out because of some expertise that we have. It was dark. It was deadly.”
US oil companies want to restore Venezuela
Trump said major U.S. oil companies would enter Venezuela to restore oil production in the country.
“We’re going to have our very big oil companies in the United States, the biggest anywhere in the world, come in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making the country money.”
Accusations against Maduro
Trump accused Maduro, without evidence, of harboring foreign adversaries and acquiring weapons that could threaten the US. He also linked the Venezuelan operations to the activities of domestic gangs.
“I will never allow terrorists and criminals to operate against the United States with impunity.”
“This highly successful operation should serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or threaten American lives.”
US military presence confirmed
Trump confirmed that US military personnel are on the ground in Venezuela and are ready for further operations if needed.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground. We had boots on the ground at a very high level last night.”
“We’re there now, ready to go again if we have to.
