Trump shares image labeling himself ‘acting president of Venezuela’

WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – US President Donald Trump shared an image on social media labeling himself the “Acting President of Venezuela,” following a US military operation that captured the country’s former leader. The move underscores the unprecedented nature of US involvement.

Trump has publicly posted an image declaring himself the “Acting President of Venezuela,” a highly provocative move days after American forces captured the South American nation’s former president, Nicolas Maduro.

The post, made on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, listed the title as effective from January 2026, reinforcing Trump’s stated intention to oversee the country during a transitional period.

The image follows the January 3 US military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who now face drug and weapons charges in a New York court.

Following the operation, Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president. The Trump administration has stated it intends to “run” Venezuela and its vital oil assets during this transition.

Despite the symbolic post, formal diplomatic engagement continues between Washington and Caracas.

A US team comprising diplomatic and security personnel has traveled to the Venezuelan capital to assess the potential reopening of the American embassy, which has been closed for years. This suggests a dual-track approach combining high-profile political theater with on-the-ground technical discussions.

Trump’s post represents a stark, symbolic assertion of control over a sovereign nation’s political leadership, an action without modern precedent in US foreign policy.

This model of overt interventionism and public disregard for national sovereignty is roundly rejected by many nations, which consistently advocate for the principles of non-interference, respect for international law, and diplomatic resolution of political crises.