Trump posts self in image claiming acting president of Venezuela

President Donald Trump shared a digitally edited image on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, presenting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026.”

The post featured an image styled to resemble a Wikipedia entry, showing Trump’s official portrait alongside listings of his U.S. presidencies (45th and 47th, with inauguration on January 20, 2025) and the added Venezuelan title.

The image included no accompanying text or explanation from Trump, allowing the visual to stand alone.

The posting follows closely on the heels of a major U.S. military operation earlier this month that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The pair were transported to New York to face federal indictments on charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracy.

Trump has stated that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s administration to ensure a “safe, proper, and judicious transition,” with a particular emphasis on stabilising the country’s oil sector, accessing reserves, and directing revenues toward U.S. and Venezuelan interests.

In response to Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice swore in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president to maintain constitutional continuity.

Rodríguez has condemned the U.S. intervention as a violation of national sovereignty and international law, while calling for Maduro’s release and urging dialogue.

Trump’s social media post has intensified international scrutiny of U.S. involvement in Venezuela, with critics describing it as provocative and emblematic of broader concerns over interventionism in Latin America.

Supporters interpret it as a symbolic assertion of American influence amid efforts to reshape regional energy dynamics and counter perceived threats from Maduro’s former administration.

As discussions continue over oil exports, transitional governance, and potential U.S. cooperation with Venezuelan interim authorities, the image has sparked widespread commentary online and in global media, highlighting the intersection of social media rhetoric, geopolitical strategy, and ongoing tensions in the region.