Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was being held in a New York detention facility on Sunday following a high-risk U.S. operation that removed him from power, an action President Donald Trump said would allow Washington to oversee Venezuela during a transitional period.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the United States would assume temporary control as the country moves toward political change.
“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.
According to U.S. officials, the operation began early Saturday and involved coordinated actions by special forces in Caracas, including strikes on military sites and disruptions that briefly affected electricity in parts of the capital. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and transported by helicopter to a U.S. Navy vessel stationed offshore, before being flown to the United States.
Maduro later arrived near New York City under heavy security and was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. U.S. authorities released images showing him restrained and escorted by federal agents. A Justice Department official said he is expected to make his first appearance in a Manhattan federal court on Monday.
The Venezuelan leader has been indicted in the United States on multiple charges, including allegations linked to narco-terrorism. Maduro has consistently rejected the accusations, arguing that Washington’s actions are driven by Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
Trump said American energy companies would eventually return to Venezuela to rehabilitate its oil industry, which has suffered from years of sanctions, underinvestment and infrastructure decay. Industry analysts, however, warn that restoring production would likely take years and require major capital investment.
The president also suggested that a continued U.S. military role had not been ruled out.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” Trump said.
Despite those remarks, uncertainty remains over how the United States would administer a country where its forces do not control territory and where domestic institutions are still functioning.
In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television to condemn the operation, calling it an unlawful seizure of national leadership.
“We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodríguez said, referring to Maduro as “the only president of Venezuela.”
A Venezuelan court later instructed Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president, citing the need to preserve governmental continuity.
International reaction was divided. While several Western governments have long challenged Maduro’s legitimacy, others urged restraint and respect for international norms. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned the action could set “a dangerous precedent.” Russia and China strongly criticized Washington, with China’s foreign ministry accusing the United States of “hegemonic behavior” that violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatened regional stability.
In the United States, Trump’s announcement reignited political debate. Democratic lawmakers questioned the legal basis for the operation and demanded a clear plan for what follows, while some Republicans voiced concern over the risk of a prolonged foreign intervention.
Inside Venezuela, public reaction was mixed. Streets were largely calm after an initial rush for food and fuel. Small pro-government gatherings formed in Caracas, while other residents expressed cautious optimism.
“I’m happy. It felt unreal, like watching a movie,” said Carolina Pimentel, a 37-year-old merchant in the city of Maracay.
Among Venezuelans abroad, celebrations erupted in several countries. In Santiago, Chile, Khaty Yanez described the moment as historic.
“We are free. We are happy that the dictatorship has fallen and that we have a free country,” she said.
More than seven million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014, according to international estimates.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet to discuss the situation, as questions continue to grow over the legality, consequences and long-term impact of the U.S. intervention.
