In a wide ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday evening, Trump said Washington expects to oversee Venezuela’s affairs and continue drawing oil from the country’s vast reserves. He framed the move as both strategic and economic, calling Venezuela’s rebuilding ‘a very profitable project.’

‘Time will decide how long this lasts,’ Trump said when asked about the duration of direct U.S. oversight. He added that the presence of U.S. naval forces near Venezuela’s coast keeps the risk of military action firmly on the table.

Trump said the interim Venezuelan leadership, made up of figures once close to former president Nicolás Maduro, is cooperating with Washington and providing what the U.S. considers necessary.

According to Trump, the United States will use Venezuelan oil, purchase it at lower prices, and at the same time inject much needed cash into the country. ‘We will rebuild it in a smart way,’ he said. ‘We’ll use oil, we’ll buy oil, and we’ll help bring prices down. Venezuela needs money badly, and we’ll make sure they get it.’

His remarks follow statements by U.S. officials suggesting that Washington plans to hold effective control over Venezuela’s oil sales for an open ended period. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told members of Congress that the policy is part of a three step plan.

While many Republican lawmakers have backed the administration’s approach, Democrats have warned that the U.S. may be sliding into a long foreign intervention without clear legal authority.

When pressed on whether U.S. political dominance would last months or years, Trump was blunt. ‘Much longer than that,’ he said.

The interview also touched on a range of other issues, including U.S. immigration policy, the war between Russia and Ukraine, NATO, Greenland, a recent ICE related shooting in Minneapolis, and further renovation plans for the White House.

Meanwhile, dramatic developments have unfolded on the ground. Over the weekend, U.S. special forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at the presidential palace and transferred them to New York. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

A federal court in New York has formally charged Maduro. He was brought to a Manhattan courthouse under heavy security, where he denied all allegations against him.

Back in Caracas, former vice president Delcy Rodríguez has assumed leadership of the country. She has issued a decree supporting U.S. actions and ordering the arrest of individuals linked to the previous administration who opposed the plan.

As events continue to unfold, Venezuela stands at the center of a high stakes power shift one marked by oil, control, and an uncertain future.