2:20This collection of images created on Aug. 7, 2025, features US President Donald Trump (L) in Washington, D.C., on July 9, 2025, alongside Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) in Caracas on July 31, 2024. Jim Watson, Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
Following the significant detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, coupled with the "large scale strike" by the U.S. on the nation, numerous questions are being raised regarding how the U.S. might govern a population of 31 million.
President Donald Trump shocked and unsettled many by declaring not only Maduro’s removal but also asserting that the U.S. would "administer" the nation temporarily, a remark that sparked fierce criticism from several Democratic lawmakers and others regarding a new and intricate foreign involvement.
Retired Marine Corps colonel and ex-State Department official Steve Ganyard, an ABC News contributor, stated on "Good Morning America" that American engagement could persist for a "considerable duration."
In this image shared on social media by President Donald Trump, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is depicted in U.S. custody, on Jan. 3, 2026.@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
"The challenge here will be to avoid disrupting the foundational structure of Venezuelan society … to identify someone who can step in, offer sufficient stability to guide towards what we hope will be free and fair elections," Ganyard remarked.
Ganyard further noted that the U.S. military presence is not positioned "to deploy forces on the ground," should the interim government not align with American interests. "Those alternatives at this moment are extremely limited," he commented.
Trump expressed doubt regarding not only Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado but also other figures in the country, due to their associations with Maduro.
On Saturday, the Venezuelan Supreme Court instructed the country’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, to assume the presidency, citing the "extraordinary situation resulting from the abduction of Nicolás Maduro Moros."
In a speech on Saturday, Rodriguez demanded Maduro’s "immediate release."
"The populace must take to the streets, the armed forces must be deployed nationwide, and all institutions must mobilize — to defend our identity as sons and daughters of Simon Bolivar," she stated during her address, in Spanish.
Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s vice president, during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Rodriguez indicated that the Venezuelan government would not acknowledge agreements brokered by the opposition with creditors. Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBloomberg via Getty Images
Her statements seemed to contradict President Trump’s depiction of her stance, who mentioned that in a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rodriguez said "she’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again."
"She had an extensive discussion with Marco, and she mentioned, "We'll do whatever you need." I believe she was quite accommodating, but she really doesn't have much choice. We intend to execute this correctly," Trump remarked during a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday.
Rubio, for his part, withheld judgment regarding Rodriguez’s remarks. "We’ll make decisions based on their actions and conduct in the forthcoming days and weeks," he stated in an interview with The New York Times.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com