US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is not at war with Venezuela and has ruled out holding elections there in the near future, arguing that the country must first be stabilised and its damaged infrastructure rebuilt following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Trump said Venezuela would not hold elections within the next 30 days, citing the lack of basic conditions required for a credible vote. “We have to fix the country first,” Trump said. “You can’t have an election if people can’t even vote.”

Trump said the immediate focus of the United States is on restoring order and reviving Venezuela’s economy, adding that the transition process would take time. “We have to nurse the country back to health,” he said.

The US President indicated that American oil companies could play a central role in rebuilding Venezuela’s energy infrastructure, an effort he suggested could be completed in under 18 months. Trump said the US government may subsidise part of the effort, but insisted that private companies would ultimately bear the costs and recover their investments.

“A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue,” he said.

Rejecting claims that Washington is engaged in a war with Venezuela, Trump said US actions were aimed at combating organised crime. “No, we’re not,” he said. “We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and mental institutions into our country.”

Trump blamed Venezuela’s collapse on its former leadership, accusing it of exporting crime and instability. Maduro was seized during a US raid in Caracas and later arraigned in New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy.

Trump said Rodríguez has been cooperating with US officials but denied any prior coordination with her camp before Maduro’s removal. “No, that’s not the case,” he said, adding that a decision would soon be taken on whether US sanctions against her would remain in place.

Asked who currently holds authority over Venezuela, Trump responded with a one-word answer: “Me.”

He also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been closely involved in communications with Venezuelan leaders, noting Rubio’s fluency in Spanish and describing their engagement as strong.

Trump said the United States remains prepared to launch a second military operation if cooperation breaks down, though he expressed confidence that such action would not be necessary. He also dismissed criticism over the lack of congressional approval, saying lawmakers were aware of US actions and that there was sufficient support in Congress.