Trump: US will ‘run’ Venezuela until ‘judicious transition’ following capture of Maduro

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun cooperating with Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a large-scale U.S. military operation.

Asked by reporters whether he is willing to work with Rodríguez, Trump said she had been sworn in as president, but added that she was “chosen by Maduro.”

According to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already held talks with Rodríguez.

“Marco just had a conversation with her, and she is basically ready to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said.

He added that Rodríguez told Rubio, “We will do whatever you want,” stressing that, in his view, “there really is no other solution.”

Trump announced that the United States plans to “run Venezuela” for an indefinite period and to “rebuild the oil infrastructure” following Maduro’s capture.

He said the U.S. presence would continue until the country is “back on the right track,” without specifying a clear timeline.

According to U.S. authorities, Nicolás Maduro is expected to arrive in New York today, where he will face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

His wife, Cilia Flores, has also been taken into custody, after the couple was arrested during a nighttime raid by U.S. elite forces.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado has called for an opposition candidate to be appointed to lead the country.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s foreign minister insists that Maduro remains the country’s legitimate leader.

In the capital, Caracas, public reactions are mixed: some citizens are celebrating what they call a “positive change,” while others warn that Maduro’s capture could deepen the crisis and lead to “an even worse conflict,” CNN/TheGeoPost.