WASHINGTON, January 12, 2026
US President Donald Trump has stirred fresh controversy by posting a digitally altered image on Truth Social depicting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela.”
The post features an edited Wikipedia-style page listing Trump as assuming the role in January 2026, following the US military operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
The provocative share comes amid ongoing US oversight of Venezuela’s transition and Trump’s recent meetings with major oil company executives to encourage direct American investment in the country’s vast oil reserves.
In recent days, Trump has emphasized that investments in Venezuela will now flow through the United States rather than the previous government, assuring companies of security guarantees. He has stated that US intervention prevented potential dominance by China or Russia in the region.
The administration describes its involvement as supporting economic reconstruction, with a focus on rebuilding oil production infrastructure and ensuring global sales align with US interests. Trump has indicated that the US will manage Venezuelan affairs until a secure and fair power transition is achieved.
The Truth Social post has drawn widespread attention, highlighting tensions surrounding the US role in Venezuela following Maduro’s arrest and extradition.
