In an unusual social media post this weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump shared an edited image on his Truth Social platform presenting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” claiming the title as of January 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the graphic — styled to resemble a Wikipedia entry — showed Trump’s portrait and listed him as “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” alongside his status as the 45th and 47th President of the United States. The post quickly circulated online and drew global attention due to its provocative nature.
The self-designation follows dramatic events earlier this month in which U.S. forces carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. On January 3, the United States military struck targets in Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported to New York, where they have been arraigned on federal drug and narco-terrorism charges.
In the wake of Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice appointed Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez as interim president under the country’s constitutional succession process. Her government has received limited recognition, and the situation remains fragile.
The Trump administration has claimed it will oversee Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is achieved, though the legality and international legitimacy of U.S. involvement have been widely questioned.
There is no official recognition by Venezuela, the United Nations, or international bodies of Trump as Venezuela’s acting president. The Truth Social post appears to be a symbolic or rhetorical statement rather than an acknowledged political reality.
