President Donald Trump said the United States will “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” of power can occur, according to remarks made in a recent clip shared online. Trump said the goal is to avoid repeating past outcomes and ensure a controlled transfer of authority.

Why It Matters

The comments come amid heightened U.S. actions involving Venezuela and signal a significant escalation in Washington’s stated role in the country’s political future.

What to Know

In the clip, shared by BRICSinfo, Trump said: “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He repeated that the transition must be “judicious,” adding that the U.S. does not want to see a return to previous conditions.

The remarks followed a statement posted by the White House, which said the United States had carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country in an operation conducted with U.S. law enforcement. The statement said further details would be provided at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago.

What People Are Saying

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk responded “true” to a post referencing comments by Senator Marco Rubio, who said Maduro is not the legitimate president of Venezuela and described his leadership as a criminal organization. Musk’s response was posted on X.

What Happens Next

The White House said additional details would be released at a scheduled news conference. It remains unclear how long the U.S. would remain involved in governing Venezuela or what specific steps would be taken toward a transition.