What's in the future for Venezuela? Trump says US will 'run' country

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said U.S. officials would administer Venezuela after the removal of its president and restore its oil infrastructure to repay U.S. companies whose property was confiscated decades ago and resume larger-scale selling aboard.

"We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump told reporters of the country with a population comparable to Texas, the second-largest state. "We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela."

His comments came at a news conference following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the country's former president, and his wife during a U.S. military raid. Maduro, his wife and top members of his administration have been indicted on federal charges of narcoterrorism and cocaine conspiracy.

Venezuela 'doesn't have a choice' about US administration: Trump

Trump said the leaders who would administer the country are still being designated. But he said they would include those surrounding him at a news conference, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"They’re going to be a team working with the people of Venezuela," Trump said.

Trump didn’t rule out having the military contribute to running the country.

"We’re not afraid of boots on the ground," Trump said. "We’re not going to do this in vain."

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Maduro remains the country's only president, despite Trump saying she had been sworn in to replace him. Trump said Rodriguez was gracious in speaking with Rubio.

"She really doesn’t have a choice," Trump said. "We’re going to have this done right. We’re not going to just do this with Maduro and leave and let it go to hell."

Trump said administering Venezuela could take 'a period of time'

Trump said his message to the people of Venezuela was that they would potentially be restored to being "a great country."

"You’re going to have peace and justice," Trump said. "You’re going to have some of the riches that you should have had a long period of time that were stolen from you."

Asked how long the administration could last, Trump said it could take time. He acknowledged it could take years.

"I’d like to do it quickly but it takes a period of time," Trump said. "It’s not going to cost us anything," he added later, because of the anticipated oil revenues.

Trump said oil companies would spend billions to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry and be reimbursed from the sale of oil, which he said had dropped off to a fraction of its potential.

"We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be," Trump said. "We’re going to make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of."

Asked about Chinese, Russian and Iranian interests in the oil, Trump said Venezuela would sell to other countries as its industry is rebuilt.

"We’ll be selling large amounts of oil to other countries, many of whom are using it now," Trump said.