The United States attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro in an overnight operation on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said, in Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

"This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American might and competence in American history," Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he was flanked by senior officials, including Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump said Maduro was in custody and that American officials would take control of Venezuela.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," he said. "We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn't have the interests of Venezuelans in mind."

Trump added that a US embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect, and US military forces would remain in position.

"The American armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until United States demands have been fully met and fully satisfied," he said.

Trump said US forces were prepared for a second, larger attack as part of the operation to capture Maduro overnight, but that it was not necessary.

He also said the United States will have large US oil companies go into Venezuela after the arrest of President Maduro.

It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela. Despite a dramatic overnight operation that knocked out electricity in part of Caracas and captured Maduro in or near one of his safe houses, US forces have no control over the country itself, and Maduro's government appears to still be in charge.

The removal of Maduro, who led Venezuela for more than 12 years, potentially opens a power vacuum in the Latin American country.

Any serious destabilisation in the nation of 28 million people threatens to hand Trump the type of quagmire that has marked US foreign policy for much of the 21st century, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq – which were also premised on regime change.

The US has not made such a direct intervention in its backyard region since the invasion of Panama 37 years ago to depose military leader Manuel Noriega over allegations that he led a drug-running operation.

The United States has levelled similar charges against Maduro, accusing him of running a "narco-state" and rigging the 2024 election.

Maduro, a 63-year-old former bus driver handpicked by the dying Hugo Chavez to succeed him in 2013, has denied those claims and said Washington was intent on taking control of his nation's oil reserves, the largest in the world.

The streets of Venezuela appeared calm as the sun rose. Soldiers patrolled some parts and some small pro-Maduro crowds began gathering in Caracas.

Venezuelan officials condemned Saturday's intervention. "In the unity of the people we will find the strength to resist and to triumph," Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said in a video message.

While various Latin American governments oppose Maduro and say he stole the 2024 vote, direct US action revives painful memories of past interventions and is generally strongly opposed by governments and populations in the region.

Trump's action recalls the Monroe Doctrine, laid out in 1823 by President James Monroe, laying US claim to influence in the region, as well as the "gunboat diplomacy" seen under Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s.

Venezuelan allies Russia, Cuba and Iran were quick to condemn the strikes as a violation of sovereignty. Tehran urged the UN Security Council to stop the "unlawful aggression."

Among major Latin American nations, Argentina's President Javier Milei lauded Venezuela's new "freedom" while Mexico condemned the intervention and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said it crossed "an unacceptable line." (Reuters)