President Donald Trump has declared the U.S. will “run” Venezuela, hours after President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and forcefully transported to New York on Saturday.

“We are going to run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Mr Trump said in a national broadcast around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Asked how the Venezuelan occupation had any significance on his “America first” mantra, Mr Trump said, “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbours.”

Mr Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and defence chief Hegseth will work as a “team” with the Venezuelan people to “run” the Latin nation. He, however, did not state how the U.S. will run Venezuela.

The U.S. leader also didn’t elaborate on how long the U.S. team will occupy Venezuela, but only said, “I’d like to do it quickly, but it takes a period of time.”

Mr Trump threatened to greet individuals who attempt to oppose him with the same fate as Mr Maduro.

“All political and military figures must realise that what happened to Maduro can happen to them,” he said.

Mr Trump said Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had already been sworn in as president in his address. Mr Rubio said Ms Rodríguez already pledged her support for America’s occupation of Venezuela.

Mr Trump said he bypassed Congress because lawmakers had a notoriety for leaking information.