In a significant development in US foreign policy, President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to appoint his senior aide, Stephen Miller, to oversee the future of Venezuela. This move comes as the Trump administration takes direct control of the South American nation's vast oil reserves and declares a delay in any new elections for at least 30 days.
Hardline Aide in a Pivotal Role
According to a report from The Washington Post, citing sources, President Trump is actively "weighing" the appointment of Stephen Miller, his hardline deputy chief of staff known for his anti-immigration stance, to a pivotal role managing Venezuela's affairs. The consideration is expected to be finalized in the coming months.
The news follows Trump's recent statements where he declared the US intention to "run" Venezuela, particularly after gaining control of its oil infrastructure, which holds the largest proven reserves in the world. Miller was seen addressing reporters on the issue at the White House on January 5, 2026.
"No Elections for 30 Days," Says Trump
Central to this new approach is a firm stance against immediate democratic processes in the crisis-stricken country. In an interview with NBC News, President Trump explicitly ruled out holding new elections in Venezuela for the next month. He argued that the nation must first be stabilised and rebuilt from its current state of collapse.
"We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote," Trump stated. He elaborated further, saying, "No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health."
Earlier, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump had outlined his vision, stating, "We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He added that this was to avoid a return to the "same situation" that had persisted for years.
Vague Plans for "Running" a Sovereign Nation
Despite the bold declarations, details on how the US plans to administer a sovereign nation whose vice president, legislature, and military remain in place and oppose US intervention remain scarce. A Bloomberg report highlighted this lack of clarity.
Trump's stated plan heavily revolves around the energy sector. He mentioned deploying major US oil companies to Venezuela to invest billions in fixing the "badly broken" oil infrastructure. However, he simultaneously indicated that the US embargo "on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect" and that American forces would stay on alert, creating a complex policy picture.
"We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country," Trump said.
This evolving situation marks a dramatic and controversial escalation of US involvement in Venezuela, placing a controversial domestic political figure, Stephen Miller, at the heart of a major international undertaking focused on the nation's oil wealth and political future.
