Trump: US will run Venezuela

WASHINGTON - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail Saturday, hours after American special forces seized and flew him out of his country which Donald Trump said would come under effective US control.

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Venezuelans living in Argentina celebrate at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Inset shows a video image of Maduro in custody of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in New York City yesterday.

(AFP REUTERS)

The US president's announcement followed a lightning predawn attack in which commandos grabbed Maduro and his wife while air strikes pounded sites in and around Caracas.

A US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, and he was transported by helicopter to New York City, where the couple were to be arraigned on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The White House posted video on X of Maduro, handcuffed and in sandals, escorted by federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York.

"Good night, happy new year," the 63-year-old leftist is heard saying in English.

Despite the success of the risky raid, what happens next is highly uncertain.

Trump said he was "designating people" from his Cabinet to be in charge in Venezuela but gave no further details.

In another surprise, Trump indicated US troops could be deployed, saying Washington is "not afraid of boots on the ground."

But he appeared to reject the possibility of the country's opposition taking power and said he could work instead with Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez.