Trump declares himself ‘Acting President of Venezuela,’ sparking global debate

In a provocative social media post, US President Donald Trump styled himself as Venezuela’s “Acting President” after a US military operation captured Nicolas Maduro, raising fresh questions about American intervention and the nation’s political future.

US President Donald Trump has ignited international discussion after posting an image on his social media platform, Truth Social, portraying himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela.” The graphic, styled like a Wikipedia entry, listed Trump as the incumbent president of the crisis-hit South American country as of January 2026, alongside his roles as the 45th and 47th President of the United States.

The post came days after what the US described as a “large-scale” military operation in Venezuela, during which Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into US custody and flown to New York to face federal indictments on narco-terrorism charges. Caracas has condemned the action as a violation of its sovereignty.

Contested succession and interim leadership

While Trump’s declaration has drawn attention, it carries no official status in international records or Venezuelan governance structures. Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s constitutional authorities moved swiftly to install Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s interim president. She was formally sworn in to ensure continuity of administration under Venezuelan law.

Rodríguez and other Venezuelan officials have rejected external claims to leadership authority, emphasizing that any transition of power must adhere to domestic constitutional processes and respect national sovereignty. Meanwhile, world leaders and diplomatic observers are watching closely as tensions escalate in the region.

US role and oil strategy

In conjunction with the social media post, Trump has asserted that the United States would oversee Venezuela’s administration until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can occur. Trump also suggested the interim government would hand over millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil to the US, to be sold at market rates and managed by the US government—a claim that further underscores Washington’s deepening involvement in Venezuela’s strategic resources.

Critics have raised concerns that such statements and unilateral actions could strain diplomatic relations and complicate efforts to restore stability in Venezuela. Observers note that while provocative, Trump’s online declaration does not reflect recognised international governance roles.