Trump: Following Nicolás Maduro’s arrest, President Donald Trump declared that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela, saying Washington will supervise the nation’s recovery prior to any elections and threatening to take additional US military action if Caracas authorities do not cooperate.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump characterized the attempt to apprehend Maduro as very risky, claiming that US helicopters were heavily targeted as American soldiers advanced.

Trump said, “It was a very dangerous operation.” “Bullets were flying everywhere, and the helicopters were being shot at.” According to him, all US servicemen made a safe return despite one helicopter being struck. He said, “We got everything back and nobody got killed.”

When asked who is now in charge of Venezuela, Trump refused to identify anybody and instead claimed US authority. He answered, “Don’t ask me who’s in charge.” “It indicates that we are in command.”

Trump said that although some members of his administration have communicated with Delcy Rodríguez, the recently sworn-in leader of Venezuela, he has not personally done so. Although Rodríguez is cooperating, he emphasized that there might still be repercussions if that changes. He said, “If they don’t behave, we will do a second strike,” adding that the US has been “prepared for a second wave.”

Regarding elections, Trump said that they would only be held after the nation was stabilized. He said, “It’s a dead country right now.” “We must return it.”

Trump said that private investment, especially from US oil firms, will be necessary to reconstruct Venezuela. He said that pipes were “strewn all over the ground” and that the infrastructure was “rusty, rotten, and most of it unusable.” According to him, big businesses are keen to join the nation.

Trump emphasized that US taxpayers would not foot the bill, saying, “They want to go in so badly.” “We will not make any investments.”

Trump promised to provide “very good care” for Venezuelans who were compelled to come to the United States.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who was also there, enthusiastically supported the operation later in the conversation, describing it as one of the most advanced operations the US military has ever undertaken. He claimed Venezuela has joined what he called a “drug caliphate” in the US backyard and likened it to the war against Osama bin Laden.

Trump said that there has already been a significant decline in Venezuelan marine drug trafficking. He said, “Drugs by sea are down 97 percent,” and added that enforcement will now also be extended on land routes.

In summary, Trump denied claims that the operation was motivated by regime change or oil. “It’s about world peace,” he said. “That’s our hemisphere.”