President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and taken to the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power could occur after a dramatic military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and taken to the United States. Trump made the remarks at a press conference, stressing that the move was intended to ensure stability, peace, and justice for Venezuelans and to prevent another leader taking over who “doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”

According to Trump, the U.S. might involve its military if necessary — saying it was “not afraid of boots on the ground” — and plans to rebuild Venezuela’s vast oil infrastructure, potentially involving major American oil companies to restore production and generate revenue. Critics have raised legal, diplomatic, and ethical questions about the intervention, with some comparing it to past U.S. actions in Latin America and other regions.

International reactions vary, with some leaders condemning the operation as a violation of sovereignty while others express concern about the legality of seizing a foreign head of state without clear international backing. The situation has sparked debate over U.S. foreign policy and the scope of presidential authority in foreign interventions.