Venezuela in U.S. hands? Trump vows control, White House celebrates, diaspora cheers, Mamdani pushes back

Nicolás Maduro had his chance - until he didn’t. Hours after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores , the situation in Venezuela and the reaction abroad have intensified. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s governance and resources. Speaking at Mar‑a‑Lago, he said the U.S. would ensure a “ safe, proper and judicious transition ” and insisted it would “ run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition .” He added that American companies would help rebuild Venezuela’s crumbling oil infrastructure and sell its resources abroad. When asked about Venezuela’s leadership, Trump described Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as “ quite gracious ” and said she would “do what’s necessary to make Venezuela great again.”

Following Trump’s statements, the White House celebrated the operation on X with a series of posts featuring videos, photos, and music. One post showed Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima , blindfolded and wearing a sweatsuit. Another video captured Maduro defiantly saying, “ Come for me, I’m waiting for you here in Miraflores. Don’t take long to arrive, cowards ” , featured the caption, “If you don’t know, now you know,” attributed to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio , while another clip showed him simply saying a “Happy New Year.” Later posts under the title Operation Absolute Resolve included images of Trump and senior officials.

Maduro and Flores were flown to the United States to face federal charges in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) , where authorities are expected to detain them in federal custody in or near Manhattan. Mayor Zohran Mamdani , who was sworn in just two days earlier, said he spoke directly with President Trump to register his opposition to the operation, calling it “an act of war” against a sovereign nation. “ I registered my opposition. I made it clear and we left it at that, ” Mamdani said. He added that the operation affects New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in the city, and pledged that his administration would monitor the situation and issue guidance to ensure public safety.

While Trump suggested cooperation with Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered her to assume interim presidential powers to “guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation.” Rodríguez rejected U.S. claims of collaboration, calling the operation “barbaric” and asserting that “ there is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolás Maduro .”

Under the Constitution of Venezuela , Articles 233 and 234 govern presidential succession. If the president is temporarily unavailable, the executive vice president assumes leadership for up to 90 days , extendable by the National Assembly. Beyond this, a permanent absence triggers a new election within 30 days , with the vice president serving as interim president until the winner is inaugurated. Rodríguez’s role falls under this framework, though extraordinary circumstances, foreign forces removing the sitting president, create legal and political ambiguity.

Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the SDNY on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, “ They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. ”

The capture of Maduro sparked celebrations in South Florida, home to a large Venezuelan diaspora who suffered under his regime’s corruption, economic collapse, and repression. Revellers chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!” and draped Venezuelan flags over their shoulders during a rally in Doral, a Miami suburb where roughly half the population is of Venezuelan descent and where Trump owns a golf resort. People gathered outside El Arepazo restaurant , a hub of Venezuelan culture, as word spread of Maduro’s removal.

As Venezuela enters a period of political uncertainty, the clash between Trump’s vision of U.S. oversight, Rodríguez’s constitutional authority, the legal charges facing Maduro and Flores, and the responses of diaspora communities highlights the complex, contested nature of the crisis.