Nicolás Maduro balked at a gilded exile. U.S. officials then saw a more pliant option in his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, known for stabilizing Venezuela’s economy.
President Trump opened a new chapter in American nation building as he declared that the United States had toppled Venezuela’s leader and would “run” the country for an indefinite period.
The tactically precise operation successfully extracted Mr. Maduro with no loss of American life, a result heralded by President Trump amid larger questions about the legality and rationale for the U.S. actions in Venezuela.
In a call with The New York Times, President Trump called the U.S. operation in Venezuela “brilliant” but did not address whether he had consulted Congress.
In a call with The New York Times, President Trump called the U.S. operation in Venezuela “brilliant" but did not address whether he had consulted Congress.