Matilda Omonaiye/
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced what he described as a successful American operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a move he linked directly to plans to revive and control Venezuela’s vast oil sector.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump says the operation enforced a 2020 United States indictment against Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism. He claimed the action was carried out in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies and that Maduro had been removed from the country.
Trump said Washington would temporarily administer Venezuela to ensure what he called a “safe and orderly transition,” while U.S. oil companies prepare to invest billions of dollars to rehabilitate the country’s energy infrastructure.
Venezuela holds an estimated 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, the largest in the world, most of them concentrated in the Orinoco Belt. Trump said the planned U.S. involvement would focus on restoring production capacity, modernising infrastructure and stabilising exports, while maintaining supply commitments to existing buyers, including China.
The announcement triggered immediate international backlash. Russia and Iran, alongside China, condemned the move, warning it could escalate geopolitical tensions and undermine international law. Several Latin American governments also expressed concern over the potential impact on regional stability.
At home, reactions in the United States were sharply divided along partisan lines. Supporters of the president praised the action as decisive, while critics questioned both the legality of the operation and the implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s governance and oil resources.
Social media platforms were awash with commentary and memes, including posts focused on the reaction of Florida Senator Marco Rubio during televised discussions of the announcement.
Trump said further details would be released at a news conference scheduled at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, as global attention remains fixed on developments surrounding Venezuela’s leadership and its strategic oil wealth.
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