Following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday morning.Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump also said the United States is not afraid to deploy troops if necessary. When asked who would govern Venezuela, President Donald Trump responded that he understood the country's vice president had already been sworn in.

Trump said Washington would not risk allowing another leader to come to power without acting in the best interests of the Venezuelan people. "We cannot risk someone else taking over Venezuela without having the best interests of the Venezuelan people in mind," he said. "We will not allow that to happen."

Trump added that the US would "essentially manage it until a proper transition occurs." He also said the operation was carried out without any US losses of personnel or equipment.

"Not a single American service member was killed, and not a single piece of American equipment was lost," he said, noting the involvement of helicopters, aircraft, and numerous personnel.

Trump's comments on oil

Trump stated that the United States plans to attract major American oil companies to Venezuela, arguing that Washington initially built the country's oil industry before it was seized by the socialist government.

He called the seizure one of the largest thefts of US property in American history, portraying renewed US involvement in Venezuela's energy sector as corrective and strategic. Trump also said the embargo on Venezuelan oil would remain in "full force."

Trump said that restoring Venezuela's oil infrastructure would take time, but added that the United States plans to sell large volumes of oil to other countries.

Second Attack Possible

On the military front, Trump said the United States is prepared to launch a second attack if necessary, though he added that a second operation currently seems unlikely. "We assumed a second wave was necessary, but now probably not," he said, suggesting that the initial operation had achieved its primary objectives.

Trump warned Venezuela's remaining political leaders that the outcome for Maduro could apply to them as well. He said that US dominance in the Western Hemisphere "will never again be questioned," portraying the operation as a deterrent not only within Venezuela but throughout the region.

The Pentagon has seen a significant military buildup in the Caribbean in recent weeks, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, 11 warships, and more than a dozen F-35 fighter jets. US officials said more than 15,000 troops had been deployed to the region in operations described as focused on counternarcotics.

Trump warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro "needs to be careful," without providing any details.

Maduro and his wife are heading to New York.

Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife had been transported to the United States. He said the couple was currently on a ship bound for New York, where they are expected to face charges following the unsealing of a federal indictment.

Trump said they would "experience the full power of the US judicial system," reiterating the administration's assertion that the operation involved both law enforcement and military action.

Separately, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that a federal indictment charging Maduro, his wife, and four others was unsealed on Saturday. The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and related offenses.

Prosecutors accuse Venezuelan leaders of abusing their public office over decades to facilitate large-scale cocaine smuggling into the United States, along with charges including conspiracy to import cocaine and weapons offenses.

Trump said he didn't notify lawmakers in advance because "Congress would leak it."