Overview
- Trump said the United States would "run" Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro was seized and brought to U.S. custody on narcotics-related charges.
- Elliott Abrams told CNN the line was not the result of an interagency plan and suggested few U.S. officials were briefed on the operation in advance.
- He argued Washington cannot administer Venezuela, describing the country as too large and complex to govern from the United States.
- Abrams urged recognition of Edmundo Gonzalez as the 2024 election winner and called for expelling Cuban and Iranian officials and freeing political prisoners.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump was referring to guiding policy rather than direct control, with Delcy Rodríguez serving as acting leader in Caracas.