Trump Signals Long-term U.S. Presence in Venezuela After Maduro's Ouster

Fri Jan 09 2026 15:15:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Donald Trump stated that U.S. involvement in Venezuela following the recent removal of Nicolás Maduro could extend for years, amid discussions on control over the country's oil sales.

In an interview with the New York Times, President Trump indicated that U.S. oversight in Venezuela may last for years after the recent military seizure of Nicolás Maduro. He provided little clarity on future elections and emphasized control over Venezuela's oil sales as critical leverage. Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado declared the removal of Maduro marks a pivotal moment towards Venezuela's liberation, asserting the need for political prisoner releases in the face of ongoing U.S. military presence and intervention.

US President Donald Trump has stated that his country's involvement in Venezuela could last for years.

He told the New York Times that only time will tell how long his administration would oversee the running of the South American nation following the seizure by US forces of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a raid on Saturday.

Trump also did not say if or when elections would be held in Venezuela to replace the interim government headed by Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said the ouster of Maduro had set off an irreversible process that would lead Venezuela to be free.

New York Times reporters quizzed Trump on his plans for the future of Venezuela days after he had said his administration would run the oil-rich nation.

Earlier, the White House asserted that the US would control sales of sanctioned oil indefinitely. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued that the US needed control over Venezuela's oil sales for leverage over the interim government in Caracas.

Trump stated that his administration would be taking oil from Venezuela, which holds the world's largest proven reserves, but acknowledged that restoring the country's oil industry would take some time.

Venezuela's oil production has plummeted due to mismanagement under the Maduro regime and years of US sanctions.

Trump informed the NYT that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in constant communication with Rodríguez, the designated interim leader by the Venezuela Supreme Court, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists.

The interim government reportedly agreed to dedicate oil sale proceeds exclusively to purchasing US-made goods. Many analysts anticipated that Maduro's ouster would lead to a quick return of opposition leaders Edmundo González and María Corina Machado to Venezuela.

However, Trump expressed skepticism towards Machado, implying she lacked the requisite respect and support to lead the nation.

Machado vocally united opposition groups ahead of the 2024 presidential elections but faced disqualification from running by pro-Maduro officials. Following contentious elections, González, allegedly the true victor, fled to avoid government repression, while Machado has been in hiding.

In a recent interview, Machado emphasized the need for releasing political prisoners, stating it as essential for the future political landscape of Venezuela.

Despite ongoing tensions and the looming decision of the U.S. Senate to potentially limit Trump's military actions in Venezuela, Trump's administration remains focused on restoring and controlling the oil industry as part of their broader plans for the country.