Trump Claims to Be Venezuela’s Acting President

Washington: Donald Trump drew attention after posting on Truth Social in which he referred to himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela.” The post, featuring his official portrait, claimed the role beginning January 2026 and came amid heightened tensions following a U.S. military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were taken to New York to face criminal charges.

Trump said the United States would temporarily manage Venezuela’s affairs to avoid a leadership vacuum, even as Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president in Caracas. He also asserted that the transitional authorities had agreed to supply tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil to the U.S., though no official records recognize Trump as Venezuela’s acting leader.