Trump says US "will run" Venezuela during transition period

Following the US military ouster of Venezuela’s President, Nicholas Maduro, Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the United States will “run” the country for the time being.

Trump, speaking at a press conference at his Florida residence, Mar a Largo, said the US will govern Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."

He also promised that US oil companies will fix Venezuela's "broken infrastructure" and "start making money for the country."

Mamdani condemns

Wifh Maduro and his wife reportedly on their way to New York for trial on various charges, following their capture by US military forces, that city’s newly inaugurated  mayor, Zohran Mamdani, responded  on social media, saying "Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law."

The mayor said he had been briefed on the capture of Maduro and his wife, "as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City".

This action, he said, was a “ blatant pursuit of regime change (which)  doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home."