Trump answers reporter’s question about U.S. soldiers in Venezuela: “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground”

President Donald Trump has revealed the United States will not rule out sending troops to Venezuela after pledging to “run” the South American country following the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Speaking at a press conference Saturday morning, Trump said he would be “running” Venezuela “with a group” until what he described as a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power takes place in Caracas.

Who runs Venezuela next?

Venezuela’s executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was appointed by Maduro, is expected to do “whatever we need,” according to the American president, who added, “she really doesn’t have a choice.”

Trump also hinted that “various people” were being “designated” for leadership roles to take charge of the country, although he did not provide further details.

Will U.S. troops be sent to Venezuela?

After his address, Trump was asked whether the US would have “boots on the ground” in Venezuela, as had been the case in the early hours of Saturday during the operation to extract Maduro. The Republican said his administration would do whatever it takes going forward to ensure the country is run “properly.”

“Well you know they always say boots on the ground. We aren’t afraid of boots on the ground if we have to have them… We had boots on the ground last night. We aren’t afraid of it. We don’t mind saying it. We are going to make sure that country is run properly. This is a very dangerous attack that could’ve gone very badly… We are there now. We are ready to go again if we have to. We are going to run the country right… It’s going to make a lot of money.”

Oil, money and American companies

That money, Trump suggested, would come primarily from oil, the product Venezuela exports far more than any other. The moment many were waiting for.

“The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust for a long period of time,” Trump said. “They were pumping almost nothing compared to what they could have. We are going to have our very large oil companies go in, spend billions, fix the oil infrastructure and start making money for the country. We’re going to take back the oil we should have taken back a long time ago.”

Trump did, at least, claim that the United States’ actions would ultimately benefit Venezuelans themselves, saying the changes would help local residents become “rich, independent and safe.”

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