“We’re going to run the country.” Takeaways and Key Questions from Trump’s Statements on Venezuela
Over the weekend, Donald Trump held a news conference on the administration’s “large-scale strike” and capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife. During the event – and in his comments after the fact – Trump confirmed that the United States would be running Venezuela for the foreseeable future, refused to rule out U.S. boots on the ground, declined to support Venezuela’s opposition leader, and suggested the U.S. would invest billions of dollars in the country’s infrastructure to extract its oil wealth.
Here are the most significant takeaways from Trump’s remarks:
Trump confirmed that the United States intends to run Venezuela indefinitely, likely with U.S. troops deployed in-country. He stated that “we’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” which would almost certainly be required to secure oil infrastructure and enforce U.S. control.
Trump refused to rule out a years-long foreign nation-building project, including billions of dollars in U.S. investments to rebuild infrastructure and establish new political leadership in the country.
Trump suggested that the operation was motivated not by drugs – but oil. He repeatedly emphasized Venezuela’s oil wealth and argued that the U.S. would be compensated by extracting and selling Venezuelan oil on the global market, declaring, “we’re in the oil business.”
Trump dismissed the prospect of working with Venezuela’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado. While calling her a “very nice woman,” Trump claimed she lacks domestic support. Instead, he suggested the administration would allow Maduro’s hand-picked successor to assume power.
Trump indicated that this operation – and others like it – may be far from over. He warned that “all political and military figures in Venezuela should understand what happened to Maduro could happen to them,” raised the prospect of a second wave of strikes, and ominously suggested that Colombia or Cuba could be next.
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s comments raised far more questions than answers. As events continue to unfold, the Administration must address several critical issues, and Congress must hold them accountable:
Is the Administration preparing to deploy U.S. troops to secure Venezuelan oil infrastructure, as Trump suggested? If so, how many troops could be deployed, and for how long? Under what authority and at what cost?
What happens if elements of Maduro’s regime refuse to cooperate? Will U.S. forces be sent further into harm’s way to enforce the Administration’s political project?
Does the Administration believe it can occupy and govern Venezuela without congressional authorization? Will the administration seek congressional authorization for further involvement in Venezuela [or other countries]?
What plans exist if this operation triggers retaliation, proxy conflict, or large-scale refugee flows throughout the region?
How long does the Administration intend to “run Venezuela”? Is the Trump Administration prepared for a years-long nation-building effort? How much will it cost the taxpayers?
Why is the Administration working with Maduro’s hand-picked successor? What about Venezuela’s democratically elected opposition leader?
What comes next? Will there be a second wave of attacks? Under what legal authority? Does the Trump Administration intend to bring other regime figures to face trial in the United States?
When will Venezuela hold elections, and who will govern the country in the long term? Will the United States be responsible for securing those elections? How much will it cost the taxpayers?
What is the Administration doing to protect U.S. citizens in the region who may now be at risk?
If Venezuela is only the beginning, as Trump suggested, which countries are next? Is the Administration preparing similar operations in Colombia, Mexico, or Cuba?
Does this operation mean Trump will allow similar operations by U.S. adversaries like Putin and Xi to replace leaders in Ukraine and Taiwan?
Published: January 2026