U.S. political leadership has signalled a major shift in Washington’s approach to Venezuela after a dramatic military operation led to the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro. In the wake of those events, former U.S. President Donald Trump asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take the lead on shaping policy and overseeing economic and political reforms in Venezuela, placing Rubio at the centre of American efforts to influence the country’s next stage of governance and stabilization.

According to official statements, Trump wants Rubio to be the primary figure directing U.S. efforts “under the president’s close guidance and direction,” focusing on transition planning, reform implementation, and managing Venezuela’s vast oil-sector potential as the country rebuilds. This move follows a controversial U.S. operation in which Maduro was captured and transported to the United States to face federal charges.

The U.S. intervention has drawn intense scrutiny and criticism from global observers, legal experts, and members of Congress. While the Trump administration cast the operation as a necessary action to counter narcotrafficking and restore stability, some lawmakers and foreign policy analysts argue that such a role raises complex questions about sovereignty and the proper scope of U.S. involvement abroad. Critics also point out that Congress was not fully briefed before the action, leading to accusations of executive overreach.

Rubio’s involvement underscores Washington’s emphasis on leveraging diplomatic, economic, and policy tools to influence outcomes rather than maintaining a direct governing role on the ground. In public statements since the transition began, Rubio has been careful to frame U.S. objectives in Venezuela as encouraging democratic reform and combating drug trafficking rather than outright governance. Senior officials have emphasised that the U.S. will continue to enforce existing sanctions and pressure mechanisms, such as oil embargoes, as leverage for change.

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Despite this more tactical framing, Trump himself has repeatedly asserted that the United States is effectively “in charge” of Venezuelan affairs for the time being, a stance that has alarmed some foreign policy experts and opposition figures alike. The situation remains fluid: Rubio’s diplomatic leadership mandate sits amid broader debates in Washington over the legality, strategy, and long-term goals of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

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In summary, Trump’s decision to appoint Rubio as the point person for Venezuela signals a U.S. focus on shaping post-Maduro reforms and economic restructuring, especially in the oil sector, even as the precise role and duration of American influence continue to evolve under domestic and international scrutiny.