International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Donald
Trump
has
posted
a
digitally
altered
image
on
Truth
Social
that
labels
Trump
as
“Acting
President
of
Venezuela,” extending
the
political
drama
around
United
States
actions
in
the
Latin
American
country
after
the
removal
and
detention
of
Nicolas
Maduro
earlier
this
month.
The
graphic
shows
Trump’s
official
portrait
placed
on
what
looks
like
a
Wikipedia
entry,
with
the
caption
“Acting
President
of
Venezuela,
Incumbent
January
2026.” The
mock
page
also
identifies
Trump
as
the
45th
and
47th
President
of
the
United
States,
stating
that
Trump
returns
to
office
on
January
20,
2025.
Donald
Trump
shared
a
digitally
altered
image
on
Truth
Social,
labeling
himself
as
the
Acting
President
of
Venezuela
starting
January
2026,
after
the
US
detained
Nicolás
Maduro
earlier
this
month
and
positioned
Delcy
Rodriguez
as
interim
president.
Furthermore,
Trump
announced
an
energy
plan
involving
the
transfer
of
30
to
50
million
barrels
of
Venezuelan
oil
to
the
US,
with
funds
under
his
control
as
US
President
to
benefit
both
nations.
Trump
Donald
Trump’s
Venezuela
leadership
claims
and
official
roles
| Position | Country |
Status / Start date |
|---|---|---|
|
Acting President |
Venezuela |
Incumbent January 2026 |
|
45th President |
United States |
Previous term |
|
47th President |
United States |
Assumes office January 20, 2025 |
Earlier
in
the
month,
the
United
States
carried
out
a
large-scale
operation
against
Venezuela,
during
which
authorities
detained
Nicolas
Maduro.
Maduro
and
spouse
Cilia
Flores
were
transported
to
New
York,
where
prosecutors
charged
both
with
conspiracy
linked
to
narco-terrorism
in
United
States
courts.
Donald
Trump
Controlled
Venezuela’s
interim
government
Following
Maduro’s
removal,
Venezuela’s
vice
president
and
oil
minister
Delcy
Rodriguez
took
the
oath
as
interim
president.
Trump
has
said
the
US
would
“run
Venezuela”
for
now,
until
a
“safe,
proper
and
judicious
transition”
is
ensured,
arguing
that
Washington
must
prevent
control
passing
to
anyone
seen
as
hostile
to
Venezuelan
citizens’
interests.
Trump
has
also
outlined
an
energy
plan
involving
the
temporary
authorities.
Trump
said
the
interim
government
in
Caracas
will
transfer
between
30
and
50
million
barrels
of
“high-quality,
sanctioned
oil”
to
the
United
States,
where
it
will
be
sold
at
market
rates
rather
than
at
discounted
prices.
“That
money
will
be
controlled
by
me,
as
President
of
the
United
States
of
America,
to
ensure
it
is
used
to
benefit
the
people
of
Venezuela
and
the
United
States!
I
have
asked
Energy
Secretary
Chris
Wright
to
execute
this
plan
immediately.
It
will
be
taken
by
storage
ships
and
brought
directly
to
unloading
docks
in
the
United
States.”
Together,
the
social
media
post,
the
detention
of
Maduro,
the
swearing-in
of
Delcy
Rodriguez
and
the
oil
export
scheme
highlight
how
Washington
is
asserting
direct
influence
over
Venezuela’s
leadership
and
resources,
while
Trump
publicly
positions
Trump
at
the
centre
of
both
political
and
economic
decisions.
