Trump Threatens Second Strike on Venezuela, Declares "We're In Charge"

A U.S. special-forces operation in early January reportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

“Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez has taken the place of her ally President Nicolás Maduro who was captured by the United States in a nighttime military operation MEXICO CITY --As uncertainty simmers in Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodríguez has taken the place of her allyPresident Nicolás Maduro, captured by the United States in a nighttime military operation, and offered “to collaborate” with the Trump administration in what could be a seismic shift in relations between the adversary governments”

ABC News

On Air Force One, President Donald Trump warned the U.S. was "prepared to do a second strike" if Venezuelan leaders "do not behave."

ABC News

Trump said the U.S. was "dealing with the people that just got sworn in" and added, "It means we're in charge."

He repeatedly framed the action as part of a broader effort to control Venezuela's transition.

Multiple outlets described the operation as quick and decisive and emphasized Washington's assertive posture toward the interim authorities in Caracas.

Accounts of the raid's conduct and human cost diverge sharply.

U.S.-facing reports describe a high-tempo, short operation with no American casualties, while Venezuelan and allied sources accuse U.S. forces of killing bodyguards, military personnel and civilians.

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Havana reported 32 Cuban nationals killed, and Caracas described the action as a 'cowardly kidnapping' that left unspecified casualties among its security forces and civilians.

Videos and U.S. footage circulated in some reports showing Maduro blindfolded and in U.S. custody, intensifying disputes over what happened during the operation.

Political continuity in Caracas was immediately contested.

“US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, saying she could face consequences “probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate with Washington, as deposed President Nicolás Maduro prepared to appear in a New York court”

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Venezuela's Supreme Court moved to name former vice-president Delcy Rodríguez acting president, saying the step was prompted by Maduro's 'forced absence'.

The military publicly declared support for her.

The U.S. administration signaled it would work with whoever was in place and said it was dealing with officials who had been sworn in.

However, Washington's claim to 'be in charge' sat uneasily alongside Caracas's assertions of illegality and calls for calm.

The international fallout was swift and polarized.

China, Russia, and Iran strongly condemned the U.S. operation.

BBC

Latin American leaders called it an 'assault on the sovereignty' of the region.

Some U.S. allies expressed concern, while a smaller set of leaders reacted more favorably.

Domestically, leading U.S. Democrats warned against further unilateral action without congressional approval, calling it a dangerous precedent with costs in blood and treasure.

Beyond the immediate crisis, analysts and some outlets linked the operation to wider strategic and resource motives.

“The US accuses Maduro, who is charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences, of running a “narco-terrorist” regime, a claim he denies”

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U.S. officials and President Trump signaled control over Venezuelan oil assets and suggested U.S. companies would play a role in rebuilding and exploiting resources, while commentators such as The Atlantic raised concerns the raid shows an American willingness to use force to secure strategic objectives, even prompting speculative comparisons to past U.S. interest in Greenland.

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Supporters framed the action as targeting narcotics networks, while critics saw it as a resource-driven power grab that sets a dangerous international precedent.