Venezuelan Coup – Trump Installs US Viceroys

Red pin on Venezuela, South America map.

President Trump has declared unprecedented U.S. administrative control over Venezuela following a military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, marking the most direct foreign intervention in decades and setting a historic precedent for American power projection in the Western Hemisphere.

Story Highlights

U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife in a January 3rd operation
Trump declared America will “run Venezuela” with no specified withdrawal timeline
Secretary of State Rubio and Defense Secretary Hegseth appointed as Venezuelan “viceroys”
Opposition from Russia and China raises fears of international retaliation
Trump threatens similar military operations against Cuba

Trump Announces Direct U.S. Control

President Trump announced Saturday that American forces successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a pre-dawn military operation on January 3, 2026. Trump declared the United States would assume administrative control of Venezuela until establishing what he termed a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” to new leadership. The operation represents an unprecedented assertion of direct U.S. governance over a sovereign Latin American nation.

Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as “viceroys” to oversee Venezuelan operations. The President stated America would finance the occupation through Venezuelan oil profits while maintaining readiness for additional military strikes. Trump emphasized the U.S. faces no timeline pressure for withdrawal, declaring “we are in Venezuela now, and we are going to stay.”

Military Operation Eliminates Regional Threat

The successful capture followed months of U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and operations targeting vessels designated for narcotics trafficking. American forces conducted the operation without casualties or equipment losses, according to Trump’s announcement. The administration had previously placed bounties on Maduro and seized sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers as pressure mounted against the regime.

Trump justified the intervention by citing Maduro’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking, hosting U.S. adversaries including Russian and Chinese military assets, and theft of American oil resources. The operation eliminates a hostile regime that threatened regional stability while providing sanctuary for enemies of American interests. This decisive action demonstrates Trump’s commitment to protecting the Western Hemisphere from authoritarian influences.

International Opposition Reveals Globalist Concerns

Russia and China condemned the operation, with fears of retaliation surfacing as traditional U.S. adversaries witness American strength. Even some allies, including the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago, distanced themselves from the intervention, revealing the globalist establishment’s discomfort with decisive American leadership. Venezuelan government officials characterized the operation as violating UN Charter provisions, demonstrating how international bureaucrats prioritize sovereignty over stopping authoritarian regimes.

US President Donald Trump Says 'We're In Charge' In Venezuela@VishalV054 reports pic.twitter.com/Qka51aCZzD

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 5, 2026

The mixed international response exposes the weakness of multilateral institutions when confronting real threats to democracy and regional stability. Trump’s willingness to act unilaterally, despite international criticism, shows how America First policies prioritize national security over globalist approval. Secretary Rubio suggested similar operations could target Cuba, signaling the administration’s broader strategy to eliminate hostile regimes throughout the hemisphere.