Trump reportedly declares himself ‘Acting President of Venezuela’
The graphic, styled to resemble a Wikipedia profile, listed Trump as “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” alongside his official titles as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, which he assumed on January 20, 2025.
United States of America’s President Donald Trump sparked international controversy Sunday January 11, 2026 after posting a doctored image on his social media platform, Truth Social, depicting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela.”
The graphic, styled to resemble a Wikipedia profile, listed Trump as “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” alongside his official titles as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, which he assumed on January 20, 2025.
The post comes amid heightened tensions following a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Earlier this month, the United States said it carried out a “large-scale” strike in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were flown to New York, where they were indicted on federal narco-terrorism conspiracy charges and have pleaded not guilty.
In the wake of Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s constitutional line of succession came into play. Vice President and oil minister Delcy Rodríguez was formally sworn in last week as the country’s interim president under Venezuelan law, a development recognized domestically even as Washington’s actions have drawn global scrutiny.
Trump has publicly stated that the United States will “run Venezuela” during the transition period, arguing that Washington must ensure a “safe, proper and judicious” transition of power and prevent leadership that is not aligned with Venezuelans’ interests. Those remarks reflect the administration’s controversial posture toward direct involvement in Venezuelan governance.
In recent comments tied to the upheaval, Trump said that interim Venezuelan authorities would transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of “high-quality, sanctioned oil” to the United States. He asserted that revenue from the oil sales would be controlled by the U.S. government to benefit both Venezuelans and Americans, and directed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to begin implementation.
The president’s decision to portray himself as Venezuela’s acting leader — a claim not recognized by Venezuelan institutions or international authorities — has drawn swift reaction worldwide, intensifying debate over sovereignty, international law, and the regional implications of U.S. intervention.
What remains clear: While Trump’s social media post amplified attention on U.S. influence in Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez remains the interim president under Venezuelan constitutional processes, and the future political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve amid diplomatic, legal and economic pressure points.
