🔗 Share this article Venezuela May Now Determine Trump's Political Legacy - and the United States' Role in the Global Order Following launching a evening of overwhelming force in Venezuela, Donald Trump seems to be entering the state-building business. In a striking news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday morning, the president announced that US military forces had successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid in Caracas. Trump then said that a group comprising Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, collaborating with Venezuelans, would be seizing the reins of the troubled nation. "We are going to administer the country until such time as we can do a safe, orderly and careful transition," he said. What precisely "running the country" entails is uncertain, but the vow represents an abrupt change of course for the president, laden with inconsistencies and daunting obstacles. A leader who campaigned against "forever wars", who sharply criticised past US efforts at overthrowing governments and who vowed to implement an "America first" foreign policy is now gambling his presidency on successfully rebuilding a South American nation whose economic system is collapsed and whose political stability has been undermined by years of authoritarian rule. Yet, Trump was relentlessly confident. He said his administration has a "unblemished record of winning" – and that this will be no different. He vowed to recruit American oil firms to rebuild Venezuela's crumbling production infrastructure, supplying funds for the American rebuilding project and aiding the Venezuelan people. He left open the possibility of deploying American soldiers to Venezuela to further these efforts. "We do not fear boots on the ground…we had boots on the ground last night," he told reporters. Trump, a sharp critic of the US invasion of Iraq, will now have to heed the words of one of the American planners of the Iraq War, Secretary of State Colin Powell: "If you break it, you own it." A Changed Global Approach The US has altered Venezuela's prospects – for better or worse. Trump came to power nearly a year ago pledging to be a diplomat, but over the past year he has demonstrated that he is ready to use armed force around the globe. In the past week, he authorized airstrikes on Syria and Nigeria. In 2025, he struck nuclear facilities in Iran, alleged narco-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, rebel forces in Yemen, militias in Somalia and Islamic militants in Iraq. In contrast to previous actions, which have largely involved rockets and warplanes that minimize the exposure of American forces to danger, Trump's Venezuela operation – and his commitments to the future of that nation – are notably different. His objective, he said during his press conference, is to "make Venezuela great again." Reactions from Allies and Critics That twist on Trump's "Make America Great Again" – or Maga - slogan could be difficult for some of Trump's followers to digest. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a one-time Trump ally who broke with the president after accusing him of deserting his political base, was quick to denounce the president's actions on social media. "Public outrage with our own government's perpetual military aggression and backing for overseas conflicts is justified because we are compelled to pay for it," she stated. "This is what many in Maga thought they voted to end. How mistaken we were." Another notable Trump critic, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, compared the legal justification for Maduro's arrest – on weapons and drug trafficking charges – with Trump's reasoning that the operation was to reclaim seized US oil and halt fentanyl production. The majority of Republican lawmakers supported the president, with House Speaker Mike Johnson describing the military action against a "criminal regime" as "decisive and warranted". Policy Rationales and Worldwide Consequences During his appearance, the president said the Venezuelan operation furthered his "America First" agenda because it ensured US hemispheric security and provided a reliable source of oil. He dusted off the Monroe Doctrine – an early 19th Century American diplomatic policy that declared the Western Hemisphere should be free from influence by European powers – and rebranded it the "Trump Doctrine." The action in Venezuela, Trump said, shows that "US preeminence in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again." The purpose of the new US security policy, he said, was to "protect trade, land and assets that are central to our security interests." He branded the Western Hemisphere as America's "home region." Trump's decision to apprehend Maduro will raise larger concerns in global politics, however, and impact American ties with the world's other major military powers. The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement voicing surprise and denouncing what it said was a irresponsible attack on a sovereign nation. During the Biden administration, the US offered similar censures of Russia after its incursion of Ukraine. Now the Trump administration is trying to mediate a ceasefire between those two nations – one that has frequently appeared to be leaning to the Russian side. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican congressman, expressed concern about the message Trump's actions might send. "My primary concern is now Russia will use this to excuse their unlawful and barbaric operations against Ukraine, or China to justify an invasion of Taiwan." Political Criticism and Constitutional Questions Trump's Democratic critics were blunter. "The United States should not be administering other countries for any reason," said a senator who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. "We should have understood by now not to get entangled in endless wars and regime change missions that carry catastrophic consequences for Americans." Another senior Democratic lawmaker stated Maduro is a criminal and a dictator with a record of human rights abuses. But he censured Trump's choice not to consult with congressional leaders before initiating the attack. "Donald Trump has the legal duty to abide by the law and protect democratic norms in the United States," he said. "That is what placing America First demands." Trump, in his press conference, said that he opted not to inform Congress because he was concerned they would "leak" particulars of the operation before the attack. An Uncertain Future That military operation was a triumph – with zero American deaths and limited harm to US assets. Trump, with his characteristic bravado, portrayed the operation as a "spectacular assault" and "one of the most stunning, effective and impressive demonstrations of American military might and competency in American history." Now he is betting his presidency on that victory enduring, as the US claims it will take over administering and reconstructing Venezuela - though what that truly entails remains unclear. He and his administration must strengthen a nation that has been in turmoil for years while stabilising a region that is bound to be wary of what Trump's foreign policy has planned for them.
Following launching a evening of overwhelming force in Venezuela, Donald Trump seems to be entering the state-building business. In a striking news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday morning, the president announced that US military forces had successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid in Caracas. Trump then said that a group comprising Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, collaborating with Venezuelans, would be seizing the reins of the troubled nation. "We are going to administer the country until such time as we can do a safe, orderly and careful transition," he said. What precisely "running the country" entails is uncertain, but the vow represents an abrupt change of course for the president, laden with inconsistencies and daunting obstacles. A leader who campaigned against "forever wars", who sharply criticised past US efforts at overthrowing governments and who vowed to implement an "America first" foreign policy is now gambling his presidency on successfully rebuilding a South American nation whose economic system is collapsed and whose political stability has been undermined by years of authoritarian rule. Yet, Trump was relentlessly confident. He said his administration has a "unblemished record of winning" – and that this will be no different. He vowed to recruit American oil firms to rebuild Venezuela's crumbling production infrastructure, supplying funds for the American rebuilding project and aiding the Venezuelan people. He left open the possibility of deploying American soldiers to Venezuela to further these efforts. "We do not fear boots on the ground…we had boots on the ground last night," he told reporters. Trump, a sharp critic of the US invasion of Iraq, will now have to heed the words of one of the American planners of the Iraq War, Secretary of State Colin Powell: "If you break it, you own it." A Changed Global Approach The US has altered Venezuela's prospects – for better or worse. Trump came to power nearly a year ago pledging to be a diplomat, but over the past year he has demonstrated that he is ready to use armed force around the globe. In the past week, he authorized airstrikes on Syria and Nigeria. In 2025, he struck nuclear facilities in Iran, alleged narco-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, rebel forces in Yemen, militias in Somalia and Islamic militants in Iraq. In contrast to previous actions, which have largely involved rockets and warplanes that minimize the exposure of American forces to danger, Trump's Venezuela operation – and his commitments to the future of that nation – are notably different. His objective, he said during his press conference, is to "make Venezuela great again." Reactions from Allies and Critics That twist on Trump's "Make America Great Again" – or Maga - slogan could be difficult for some of Trump's followers to digest. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a one-time Trump ally who broke with the president after accusing him of deserting his political base, was quick to denounce the president's actions on social media. "Public outrage with our own government's perpetual military aggression and backing for overseas conflicts is justified because we are compelled to pay for it," she stated. "This is what many in Maga thought they voted to end. How mistaken we were." Another notable Trump critic, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, compared the legal justification for Maduro's arrest – on weapons and drug trafficking charges – with Trump's reasoning that the operation was to reclaim seized US oil and halt fentanyl production. The majority of Republican lawmakers supported the president, with House Speaker Mike Johnson describing the military action against a "criminal regime" as "decisive and warranted". Policy Rationales and Worldwide Consequences During his appearance, the president said the Venezuelan operation furthered his "America First" agenda because it ensured US hemispheric security and provided a reliable source of oil. He dusted off the Monroe Doctrine – an early 19th Century American diplomatic policy that declared the Western Hemisphere should be free from influence by European powers – and rebranded it the "Trump Doctrine." The action in Venezuela, Trump said, shows that "US preeminence in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again." The purpose of the new US security policy, he said, was to "protect trade, land and assets that are central to our security interests." He branded the Western Hemisphere as America's "home region." Trump's decision to apprehend Maduro will raise larger concerns in global politics, however, and impact American ties with the world's other major military powers. The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement voicing surprise and denouncing what it said was a irresponsible attack on a sovereign nation. During the Biden administration, the US offered similar censures of Russia after its incursion of Ukraine. Now the Trump administration is trying to mediate a ceasefire between those two nations – one that has frequently appeared to be leaning to the Russian side. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican congressman, expressed concern about the message Trump's actions might send. "My primary concern is now Russia will use this to excuse their unlawful and barbaric operations against Ukraine, or China to justify an invasion of Taiwan." Political Criticism and Constitutional Questions Trump's Democratic critics were blunter. "The United States should not be administering other countries for any reason," said a senator who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. "We should have understood by now not to get entangled in endless wars and regime change missions that carry catastrophic consequences for Americans." Another senior Democratic lawmaker stated Maduro is a criminal and a dictator with a record of human rights abuses. But he censured Trump's choice not to consult with congressional leaders before initiating the attack. "Donald Trump has the legal duty to abide by the law and protect democratic norms in the United States," he said. "That is what placing America First demands." Trump, in his press conference, said that he opted not to inform Congress because he was concerned they would "leak" particulars of the operation before the attack. An Uncertain Future That military operation was a triumph – with zero American deaths and limited harm to US assets. Trump, with his characteristic bravado, portrayed the operation as a "spectacular assault" and "one of the most stunning, effective and impressive demonstrations of American military might and competency in American history." Now he is betting his presidency on that victory enduring, as the US claims it will take over administering and reconstructing Venezuela - though what that truly entails remains unclear. He and his administration must strengthen a nation that has been in turmoil for years while stabilising a region that is bound to be wary of what Trump's foreign policy has planned for them.