WSJ What’s News Big Questions After Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run’ Venezuela
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Jan 3, 2026 
Damian Paletta, Washington coverage chief at The Wall Street Journal, and Vera Bergen-Gruen, national security reporter, dive into the U.S. pledge to run Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. They discuss President Trump's legacy on this intricate nation-building project and the mixed responses from oil companies. The duo also examines the justifications for intervention, relevant historical parallels like Iraq, and varying international reactions, highlighting the complexities and uncertain outcomes ahead.
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U.S. Captures Maduro, Announces Extended Role
- The U.S. captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a major nighttime raid and plans to bring him to New York for trial.
- President Trump then announced the U.S. will "run Venezuela" until a proper transition, creating complex nation-building questions.
Energy And Reconstruction Framed As U.S. Role
- Trump suggested U.S. involvement could include running oil operations and rebuilding infrastructure.
- That signals a possible long-term economic and security commitment beyond detaining Maduro.
Mixed Rationales From U.S. Officials
- Administration officials offered shifting rationales: justice for narco-trafficking, national security in the hemisphere, and economic opportunity.
- The mixed messages reveal uncertainty about objectives and whom the U.S. supports to govern Venezuela.