US President Donald Trump has said that his country's involvement in Venezuela could last for years. Trump also did not say if or when elections would be held in Venezuela to replace the interim government headed by Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said the ouster of Maduro had set off an "irreversible process" that would lead Venezuela to be "free". New York Times (NYT) journalists quizzed Trump on his plans for the future of Venezuela days after he had said his administration would run the oil-rich nation. According to the NYT reporters, Trump did not answer their questions about why he recognised Rodríguez as Venezuela's new leader.

Source: The Star January 08, 2026 19:29 UTC