Trump has strongly defended recent US military strikes on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, calling the operation “amazing” and “brilliant” even as the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro triggered legal, political and diplomatic fallout at home and abroad.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the US military strikes on Caracas as “amazing” and “brilliant”, doubling down on the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, even as political uncertainty deepened in Venezuela and beyond.
Speaking at the House Republicans’ annual retreat, Trump said the strikes were executed with tactical precision and without American casualties. He described the mission as “brilliant tactically” and “an incredible thing”, while again branding Maduro a “violent guy” responsible for mass killings. Trump also criticised opposition lawmakers for refusing to acknowledge what he called a major success.
Maduro pleads not guilty in US court
Hours later in New York, Maduro pleaded not guilty to US narcotics and weapons charges during a brief federal court hearing. Declaring he had been “kidnapped”, he insisted he remained Venezuela’s president. His wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not-guilty plea, as both pro- and anti-Maduro protesters gathered outside the courthouse.
Maduro faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, allegations he has long dismissed as a pretext for US attempts to control Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as interim leader
Back in Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was swiftly sworn in as interim president, signalling continuity rather than confrontation. While opposition leader María Corina Machado praised Trump and vowed to return to Venezuela to push for free elections, the White House appeared to sideline the opposition for now.
US officials indicated a willingness to work with Rodríguez and senior holdovers from Maduro’s government, saying Washington continued to maintain “leverage” through engagement.
Intelligence assessment sidelines opposition
A US intelligence assessment cited by American media said Rodríguez was best positioned to maintain stability, concluding that opposition figures would struggle to command legitimacy in the short term. The assessment left many anti-Maduro activists disappointed, as expectations of a swift political transition faded.
Wider geopolitical fallout
The shockwaves from Venezuela also spilled into transatlantic politics. European leaders rallied behind Denmark and Greenland after Trump revived remarks about taking control of the Arctic island, stressing that Greenland “belongs to its people”.
With Washington asserting hard power abroad and Europe pushing back diplomatically, the fallout from the Venezuela operation is reshaping debates over sovereignty, intervention and US global ambitions.
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