US-Venezuela Tensions

Trump Outlines His Plans for Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture

‘The path forward will be extremely challenging,’ a former State Department adviser said.
Trump Outlines His Plans for Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture
President Donald Trump, alongside (L–R) deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, speaks to the press following U.S. military actions in Venezuela, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2026. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Emel Akan
Emel Akan
Reporter
|Updated:
0:00

WASHINGTON—After U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro over the weekend, attention has turned to what comes next for the country that has lived under socialist rule for more than 25 years.

President Donald Trump has spoken about his long-term goals for Venezuela, but for now, his focus remains on tackling short-term challenges. Holding fair and free elections and restoring a democratic government will take time, he said, as there is much work to do.

Emel Akan
Emel Akan
Reporter
Emel Akan is a senior White House correspondent for The Epoch Times, where she covers the policies of the Trump administration. Previously, she reported on the Biden administration and the first term of President Trump. Before her journalism career, she worked in investment banking at JPMorgan. She holds an MBA from Georgetown University.
twitter