Political commentator Andrew Neil has slammed Donald Trump’s plan in Venezuela after the unprecedented capture of Nicolas Maduro. He has taken to social media to blast the US President, adding his plan has “disaster written all over it”.
Mr Neil described the “abduction” of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, which took place earlier today as “brilliantly executed” by the US army. However, he has urged Trump to hand Venezuela over to the opposition party rather than try and operate the country himself. The US President said during an earlier news conference in Florida that his country would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is possible.
Mr Neil posted on X: “The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no.
“Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery.
“He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.”
Donald Trump said the operation to capture Maduro was “an assault like people have not seen since World War Two.” He added: “This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.”
He also said: “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.
“So, we don’t want to be involved with, having somebody else get in. And we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So, we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
Nicolas Maduro is being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center prison in New York. Officials have confirmed he will appear in court by Monday evening accused of “narco-terrorism”.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X that the UK sheds “no tears” about the end of Maduro’s regime. The Prime Minister added that Britain will “discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead.”
For all of the latest updates on the situation in Venezuela, follow our designated live blog here.