In an exclusive interview with NBC News on January 6, 2026, United States President Donald Trump firmly declared that no immediate elections will be pursued in Venezuela, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive stabilization and extensive infrastructure reconstruction in the aftermath of the successful U.S. military operation that captured and removed Nicolás Maduro from power.

Trump maintained that current on-ground realities render any voting process impractical within the next 30 days, stating that fundamental order must first be restored to enable citizens to participate safely, while rejecting accusations of U.S. engagement in warfare against Venezuela and instead framing American actions as part of broader efforts against drug trafficking and transnational crime.

The president outlined an ambitious economic recovery strategy centered on revitalizing Venezuela's vast energy sector, proposing a pivotal role for major U.S. oil companies in rebuilding critical infrastructure, with potential initial subsidies from Washington that would ultimately be recouped through operational revenues over a transition period he estimated at less than 18 months.

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When pressed on authority over the nation's future direction, Trump responded unequivocally with a single word—"Me"—while highlighting ongoing high-level diplomatic engagement led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, praising their strong working relationship and confirming U.S. readiness for further military intervention if required, though expressing confidence that such measures would prove unnecessary.

Separately, heightened security concerns emerged in Caracas late Monday when unidentified drones prompted defensive gunfire near the Miraflores Presidential Palace shortly after Rodríguez's swearing-in, with tracer rounds visible in social media footage and witnesses reporting brief bursts of shooting amid rapid mobilization of forces, though authorities later confirmed the incident was swiftly contained without escalation.

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