Bloomberg Businessweek — Instant Reaction: Trump Says US to ‘Run Venezuela’ in Interim After Maduro

Date: January 3, 2026
Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec
Key Guests: Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL), Justin Logan (Cato Institute), Jeannie Shan Zaino (Harvard/Kennedy School), Lester Munson (BGR Group)

Episode Overview

This breaking news episode delivers rapid analysis and panel reaction to President Trump’s announcement that the United States will "run" Venezuela following a military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. With high-profile US officials—including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—flanking Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the administration outlines its interim governance plan and energy ambitions, drawing immediate scrutiny from experts, lawmakers, and analysts. The program unpacks the details of "Mission Absolute Resolve," the legal and political fallout, and the historic context of direct US control of a sovereign nation.

Key Discussion Points

1. Details on the US Operation in Venezuela

• Mission Absolute Resolve: Last night’s operation involved extensive intelligence gathering, targeting Maduro and minimizing civilian harm.
  • "Dan Kane describing months of work by intel to find Nicolas Maduro, who is now on his way to New York to face charges. ...The key, he said, was choosing the right day to minimize civilian harm. He described 150 military aircraft involved..." — Tim Stenovec [01:45]
• All US military aircraft returned safely, though one helicopter came under fire but remained flyable.

2. Trump Administration’s Dramatic Announcements

• Interim US Management of Venezuela:
  • “We are going to run it, essentially referring to the country of Venezuela until such time as proper transition can take place.” — Tim Stenovec quoting President Trump [02:30]
• Preparedness for Extended Involvement:
  • Trump: “We are not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to, and we're going to make sure that, that this is proper. We're there now and... it'll be the people that are standing right behind me who will be running the country.” [02:50]
• Energy and Justification:
  • “America needs safe neighbors and also we need energy, and that's our energy.” — Carol Massar paraphrasing Trump [03:53]
  • US to use Venezuelan oil to pay for the administration and "reimburse" itself for damages.

3. Rejection of Venezuelan Opposition Leader

• On Maria Corina Machado:
  • “He doesn't think she's up to the job. He doesn't think it's going to be her. He doesn't think she has the support of the people.” — Carol Massar [03:53]
  • Trump: "She's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect to have the job." — Tim Stenovec [04:21]

4. Congressional Response & Legality

• Congressional Notification:
  • “I didn't. I don't know of any of my colleagues have gotten briefing. ...the president needs to follow the Constitution. ...only the United States Congress ...has the authority to declare war, has the authority to authorize military force.” — Rep. Brad Schneider [05:11]
• Demands for Legal Justification:
  • “The president needs to show Congress and the American people what was that threat? What is the legal justification?” — Schneider [05:39]
• Comparison to Panama 1989:
  • “The US invaded Panama on December 20th of 1989... The difference was ...the Panamanian people governed themselves. And so we need to understand why that isn't happening here.” — Schneider [07:39]

5. Partisan Divides on War Powers

• Lack of Congressional Authorization:
  • "That does not mean President Trump has blanket authority to send the US Military into a foreign land without authorization by Congress." — Tim Stenovec referencing Schneider’s Twitter statement [08:50]
• Congress’ Constitutional Role:
  • “The founders established... three co equal branches of government. ...it is Congress who has the ability to respond and react. We need to make sure that congressional authority is protected. ...not just on war powers, but we've seen on tariffs and so many other areas.” — Schneider [09:17, 09:45]

6. Panel Analysis: Military Strategy, Motive, and Political Optics

• Lack of Clear Endgame:
  • “The president didn’t say we’re going to be running Venezuela in an offhand response...it was clearly in his prepared remarks. ...That is surprising to me.” — Justin Logan [14:45]
  • “We’re missing huge pieces of the story if, in fact, the Americans are going to be running Venezuela.” — Logan [15:45]
• Public Justification Doubts:
  • “The administration’s public case for its Venezuela policy is insultingly ridiculous.” — Justin Logan, quoting his own op-ed [15:53]
  • “Trying to pin down the case for this ...has been, even for somebody who’s been in this business for a while, a pretty heavy lift.” — Logan [16:42-18:17]
  • “That just strikes me as a weird political pitch in an era where Americans are asking for more help at home, for more focus at home.” — Logan [19:05]
• Trump’s Explicit Oil Motive:
  • “We built Venezuela’s oil industry with American talent, drive and skill, and the socialist regime stole it from us.” — Trump, quoted by Tim Stenovec [18:17]

7. Political Panel: Domestic & Foreign Policy Fallout

• Unanswered Questions:
  • “I think he opened a lot more questions than he answered. ...All of this is just an astonishing development.” — Jeannie Shan Zaino [21:17]
• Marco Rubio’s Positioning:
  • “The secretary of state did a good job. ...He looked very comfortable. He was being very politically smart. ...He was happy to step aside and let [Trump] do that.” — Lester Munson [22:35]
• Power Consolidation & Cabinet Role:
  • “There is absolutely no distance between Donald Trump and the people in his cabinet, and that's by design. ...The administration does not need to inform Congress about a military activity, if it is a law enforcement activity. This is news, I think, to many of us in the legal community.” — Jeannie Shan Zaino [23:55]
• “America First” Rhetoric vs Non-Interventionism:
  • “This is classic kind of Jacksonian approach to foreign policy, which is, is the US getting something out of this? ...He goes out and makes a case: we're getting the oil, we're going to manage the oil. This belonged to us, we're taking it back. That's going to resonate with that, with that MAGA base.” — Lester Munson [25:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump’s Direct Statement:

  • "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." — President Trump (via Nathan Hager) [20:01]

• Congressman Schneider’s Warning:

  • "But the fact of the matter is that the president needs to follow the Constitution. And it is only the United States Congress who has the authority to declare war..." — Rep. Brad Schneider [05:23]

• Justin Logan on Confused Rationale:

  • "Trying to pin down the case for this ...has been, even for somebody who's been in this business for a while, a pretty heavy lift." [17:10]

• Jeannie Shan Zaino on Cabinet Solidarity:

  • "There is absolutely no distance between Donald Trump and the people in his cabinet, and that's by design." [23:55]

Key Timestamps & Segments

• 01:45 — Tim Stenovec outlines the scope of US military action and the initial White House statements.
• 03:53 — Carol Massar relays Trump’s justification for intervention, referencing oil and "America First."
• 05:11 – 10:25 — Congressman Brad Schneider’s reaction: no notification, demands legal basis, comparison to Panama, constitutionality.
• 14:40 – 19:22 — Justin Logan (Cato Institute) critiques the administration’s rationale, messaging for regime change, historical context.
• 21:17 – 26:03 — Panel with Jeannie Shan Zaino and Lester Munson on political, constitutional, and strategic implications.

Thematic Summary

• US Direct Intervention:
  The Trump administration makes an unprecedented move by not only ousting Venezuela’s president but publicly stating the US will administer the country until a transition is deemed suitable. The explicit tying of this action to oil and security interests marks a shift in post-Cold-War American foreign policy, reviving deep debates over interventionism, self-declared war powers, and the role of Congress.
• Legal & Political Fallout:
  Lawmakers, especially from the Democratic side, question the administrative and legal basis, with Congressman Schneider emphasizing the risk of Congress ceding its war powers. Even panelists from across the spectrum express concern about both the underlying rationale and the wisdom of the operation.
• Optics and Public Messaging:
  The episode points out the administration’s aggressive, sometimes tone-deaf, messaging—such as the use of the "Fortunate Son" soundtrack in official videos, and the stark focus on US oil interests—raising questions about both domestic and international reception.

Final Thoughts

This special edition was packed with rapid developments, instant analysis, and expert critique. The episode makes clear the profound historical significance of the administration’s move, and how its direct, transactional language drew sharp responses from lawmakers and analysts alike. Both the process—the bypassing of Congress—and the justification—the overt claim to Venezuelan resources—prompt concern about America’s role in the hemisphere, the meaning of "America First," and the rule of law in US foreign policy going forward.