Trump says U.S. will 'run' Venezuela after capturing Maduro in surprise military strike

Ali Rogin:

Good evening. I'm Ali Rogin. John Yang is away. There are moments in time when history possibly pivots. And today, in a stunning act of regime change, the U.S. Military captured and brought Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to U.S. soil. Not long after that, in a remarkable declaration, President Trump announced the U.S. would, quote, run Venezuela and warned of a new era of United States domination over Latin America. We will get an on the ground report from Venezuela's capital, Caracas in a moment, but we begin our coverage with Nick Schifrin.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

It was just after midnight over Caracas when U.S. helicopters with Delta Forces soldiers descended toward Nicolas Maduro's compound. Nearby, residents filmed and cowered from U.S. strikes on at least four locations. All part of the mission to capture and extract Maduro.

By 2:

00 local, they had him, and by 3:00 a.m. he was shackled aboard the USS Iwo Jima, the dictator turned detainee of the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. military officials said U.S. helicopters took fire as they left Venezuela but remained able to fly.

A source Familiar tells PBS NewsHour a small CIA team arrived in August and created extraordinary insight into Maduro's pattern of life that made grabbing him seamless.

Donald Trump, U.S. President:

This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

In Palm beach today after he and his team watched the operation unfold overnight, President Trump announced the operation was not only about regime change.

Donald Trump:

We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

President Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in to replace Maduro.

Donald Trump:

She had a long conversation with Marco and she said we'll do whatever you need. I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn't have a choice.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

But at least publicly today, Rodriguez rejected that.

Delcy Rodriguez, President, Venezuela (through interpreter):

We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores. The only president of Venezuela is President Nicolas Maduro.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

And President Trump made clear part of the plan was to take Venezuela's oil. The country has the world's largest oil reserves, which the U.S. helped develop exactly one century ago. But former leader Hugo Chavez kicked out some U.S. and other foreign energy companies and today the industry produces a fraction of its capacity.

Donald Trump:

We're going to be replacing it and we're going to take a lot of money out so that we can take care of the country.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

But the president made clear today was not only about Venezuela. This was about displaying an ability and willingness to enforce regional domination and embracing the early 19th century declaration by President Monroe to block foreign colonialism in the Americas.

Donald Trump:

They now call it the Donroe Doctrine. I don't know. Under our new national security strategy, American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

Rubio made clear the next possible target.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State: Yeah, look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

And to critics who question whether a president who was elected in part to avoid foreign entanglements.

Man:

Why is running a country in South America first?

Donald Trump:

Well, I think it is because we want to surround ourselves with good neighbors. We want to surround ourselves with stability. We want to surround ourself with energy. We have tremendous energy in that country.

Nick Schifrin (voice-over):

Regime change not for democracy, but for energy and for its own sake, as the question tonight in Caracas and perhaps around the world. Now what? For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Nick Schifrin.