Trump's Venezuela Takeover: Maduro Captured, Oil Demanded, Power Struggle Intensifies

• US military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, bringing them to New York for trial.
• President Trump initially declared the US would "run" Venezuela, later doubling down on claims of being "in charge" and demanding "total access" to its vast oil reserves.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to moderate Trump's stance, stating the US would "run policy" rather than "day to day" governance, but acknowledged US interest in Venezuela's oil.
• Venezuela's military endorsed Delcy Rodríguez as acting president, who has since called for cooperation with the US, despite earlier condemning the "brutal use of force."
• The crisis is deeply tied to Venezuela's massive oil reserves, with Trump aiming for US companies to rebuild and profit from the "badly broken" infrastructure, a long-term endeavor.

Why It Matters: US asserts control over Venezuela post-Maduro capture, eyeing oil, while leadership remains ambiguous.