By Hannah Saunders

During the middle of the night on January 3, U.S. troops incessantly bombed Caracas, Venezuela, and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago later that day, Trump said the U.S. is going to “run” the country until a transfer of power occurs, and take over the country’s oil reserves.

“We’re there now, but we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition [of power] can take place,” Trump said, sounding sickly to the briefing he was over a half hour late to. “We’re gonna run it essentially.”

President Maduro will face criminal charges in the state of New York: narco-terrorism conspiracy, and weapons charges. Hundreds of cities across the globe rapidly responded to the news of the kidnapping, with protesters burning American flags outside of U.S. consulates.

Seattle organizers held several actions throughout the city, including at Alaskan Way at the Overlook, and several took to speaking to discuss the horrors of the U.S.’s actions overseas.

Although President Maduro is widely consired a dictator both in Venezuela and internationally, the U.S. does not have legal authority to overthrow and operate a foreign government. Trump called the orders without Congressional approval or oversight.

Activists warn that Trump is attempting to drain out Venezuela’s natural oil resources for profit, another American imperialistic move.

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