US President Donald Trump claims that Venezuela is effectively being run by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

“He runs Venezuela,” the American leader said at an event in Washington while introducing the head of the US Department of Energy to those present.

“We have excellent relations with Venezuela. And the people of Venezuela are very happy right now,” the American leader believes. “Our largest oil companies in the world are going [there] and doing business of a kind that everyone [previously] thought impossible. And we are taking some of it [Venezuelan oil], and we are entitled to it. And they are taking some [oil] too. Venezuela is now earning more than ever before. And we are also making a lot of money [from Venezuelan oil]. I believe we have the right to this,” Trump added.

On January 3, the United States attacked civilian and military facilities in Venezuela, captured and removed its president, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores. On January 5, they appeared before the federal court for the Southern District of New York. They are accused of involvement in drug trafficking. Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty. The functions of head of state in Venezuela are being carried out by presidential commissioner Delcy Rodríguez, who under Maduro served as the republic’s executive vice president.