WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington would oversee Venezuela's government during an interim period following the capture of the South American nation's president, Nicolas Maduro.
"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump told a news conference in the US state of Florida, flanked by senior Cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The US wants peace, liberty, and justice for the "great people" of Venezuela, he added.
Earlier Saturday, Trump announced that Washington had carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, and that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores had been "captured and flown out" of the country.
“Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela (Caracas).
"Overwhelming American military power, air, land, and sea was used to launch a spectacular assault – and it was an assault like people have not seen since World War II," Trump told reporters.
Trump said Maduro and his wife were seized during the operation, and would face prosecution in the US judicial system.
"This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history," he added.
Trump said Maduro and his wife were on board a US Navy ship, the USS Iwo Jima, and would be heading to New York. Unnamed sources also reportedly told broadcaster ABC News that Maduro was expected to make a stop at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being transferred to an FBI plane to New York.
"Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil," he said.
Trump said during the operation, not a single American service member was killed, and not a single piece of American equipment was lost.
The US had been prepared to carry out a “second wave” of strikes if needed, Trump said, adding that that was probably not necessary now.
“The American armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until United States demands have been fully met and fully satisfied,” he added.
Trump also said Venezuela had been "increasingly" hosting foreign adversaries in the region.
"All of these actions were in gross violation of the core principles of American foreign policy dating back two centuries ... all the way back to the Monroe Doctrine. And the Monroe Doctrine is a big deal ... They now call it the Donroe Doctrine," he said, punning on his first name.
The president also said the US embargo on Venezuelan oil -- in place since late last year -- remains "in full effect."
US 'not afraid of boots on the ground."
Asked to clarify the US' plans for Venezuela's governance, Trump said his administration would be running it "with a group."
"We’re going to make sure it’s run properly. We’re going to make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of and we’re going to make sure the people of Venezuela who were forced out by this thug are taken care of," he added.
Trump also underlined that in addition to airstrikes and naval strikes, the US is "not afraid of boots on the ground."
When asked what specific process the US will use to oversee Venezuela in the days ahead, Trump said, “We’re designating people right now” and added, “We’re going to let you know who those people are.”
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed authority following Maduro’s capture on Saturday. Trump said Secretary of State Rubio had already spoken with her.
"She was sworn in as president just a little while ago. She had a long conversation with Marco, and she said, 'We'll do whatever you need.' I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn't have a choice," Trump said.
On Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, Trump said it would be "very tough" for her to be the leader.
"She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country, she's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect," he said.
Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided detailed information on the military action, dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve."
Caine said it was "discreet, precise, and ... the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal -- an operation that, frankly, only the United States military could undertake."
In total, he said, more than 150 aircraft, including bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and rotary wing, had been in the air during the operation.
"At 10.46 pm eastern time last night, the president ordered the United States military to move forward with this mission ... He said to us ... 'Good luck, and Godspeed' -- and those words were transmitted to the entire joint force," Caine said.
Several US Democratic lawmakers on Saturday slammed the Trump administration’s military strikes on Venezuela, calling them "illegal."
Rubio said they called members of Congress immediately after the operation.
"At its core, this was an arrest of two indicted fugitives of American justice ... it's just not the kind of mission that you can pre-notify because it endangers the mission," he said.
