Trump tells Post that U.S. troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’: ‘We have a second wave’ | 3 Jan 2026 | President Trump told The Post in an exclusive interview that U.S. troops won’t be stationed in Venezuela so long as ousted strongman Nicolás Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, “does what we want” in the aftermath of a daring U.S. raid that captured Maduro. Trump made the clarification moments after a press conference where he said that “we are going to run the country” ahead of a democratic transition, introducing the prospect of a U.S. occupation. Asked by The Post if “U.S. troops [will] be on the ground helping run the country,” Trump said: “No, if Maduro’s vice president — if the vice president does what we want, we won’t have to do that.” “We’re prepared,” Trump added. “You know, we have a second wave that’s much bigger than the first wave.”