President Trump stated that the U.S. intends to run Venezuela after Maduro capture

President Donald Trump said the United States will effectively administer Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can take place, following a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump also said the United States is not afraid to deploy boots on the ground if necessary. When asked who would run Venezuela, President Donald Trump said he understood that the country’s vice president had been sworn in.

Trump said Washington would not risk allowing another leader to take power without acting in the interests of the Venezuelan people. “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind,” he said. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

Trump added that the U.S. would “run it, essentially, until such time as a proper transition can take place.” He also said the operation was carried out without U.S. casualties or equipment losses.