I’m Acting President of Venezuela, Boasts Trump
I’m Acting President of Venezuela, Boasts Trump
President Donald Trump sparked international debate by posting a digitally altered image on Truth Social that depicted him as the “Acting President of Venezuela.”
The image, which mimics a Wikipedia biography, lists him as the “incumbent” as of January 2026 and identifies Vice President JD Vance as his deputy. While the graphic is fabricated, it reflects Trump’s recent assertions that the United States will “run” the country during its current transitional period.
The post follows a dramatic military intervention known as Operation Absolute Resolve. On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces conducted a raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Both were transported to New York to face federal charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
Following the operation, Trump declared at a press conference that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela’s administration to ensure a “proper and judicious transition” and to revitalize its oil industry.
Despite Trump’s symbolic social media claim, a new Venezuelan government has already begun to form on the ground.
Last week, Delcy Rodríguez, the former Vice President, was formally sworn in as the country’s interim president by the National Assembly. While Rodríguez has criticized the U.S. military action as “brutal aggression,” the Trump administration has indicated it is coordinating with the new authorities, though it continues to maintain a naval blockade to monitor oil exports and financial assets.
This shift in regional policy has drawn sharp reactions from neighboring countries and international observers. While Trump claims the U.S. involvement will “make a lot of money” through oil investments, leaders in the region have expressed concern over the legality of the intervention.
As the U.S. moves to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba and invites major energy companies like ExxonMobil to return to Caracas, the situation remains a high-stakes test of the “peace through strength” doctrine in the We
stern Hemisphere.
