Trump on U.S. Role in Venezuela

President Donald Trump mentioned in a conversation with the New York Times that the U.S. could potentially govern Venezuela for an extended period following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.

After Maduro’s detention, the Trump administration stated he would remain in power until a “sensible” transition occurs. During the two-hour interview, Trump conveyed that he anticipated the U.S. presence in Venezuela would last longer than a year, though he remarked, “Time will tell.”

When pressed about the possibility of U.S. governance extending for more than a year, Trump responded, “I would say longer.” He repeated the idea that only time would reveal the outcome.

In the wake of Maduro’s apprehension, Congressional Democrats charged Trump with engaging in unlawful “regime change” operations. Trump subsequently highlighted that Venezuela could be “lucrative” if its infrastructure was reestablished.

“We’re going to rebuild it in a very profitable way,” Trump told the NYT, adding that they would utilize oil resources, thus lowering prices and providing Venezuela with much-needed funds.

During the interview, Trump was reportedly evasive when asked why he opted not to back opposition leader Maria Colina Machado. Previous reports indicated that Machado’s strategy was influenced by various factors, including insights from the CIA and her strained relations with some within the Trump administration.

However, Trump did note, “Marco talks to her all the time. I want to let you know that we are in constant communication with her and the administration.”