When U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image on his social network, “Truth Social,” named “Acting President Of Venezuela.” The image was posted on January 11th, 2026, had a caption of “acting president of Venezuela,” with an image of Mr. Trump in his formal portrait, and stated that he had been the “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026.” In addition, it states that Mr. Trump was both the 45th and the 47th USA president, starting from January 20th, 2025.
This post was made at a time when there are increasing tensions after a significant U.S. military operation took place in Venezuela this month.
U.S. Military Operation and Capture of Nicolás Maduro
On January 3, 2026, US troops seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a sudden nocturnal mission. The incident occurred following a pre-planned sequence of joint armed actions against the South American nation in response to significant recent increases of economic and diplomatic exertion directed towards it for what appeared to be the mutually beneficial extraction of its vast oil reserves.
In the wake of the successful operation, Mr. Trump disclosed that US operatives had been present in Venezuela prior to the operation and further RFC’ed the US with the task of temporarily overseeing governance in the capital, Caracas, until such time as a “safe, proper, and judicious” transition could be made. President Trump stated to reporters shortly after the incident that the United States would continue to manage Venezuela until a more stable government was selected.
Trump’s Claim Over Venezuela’s Governance
Mr. Trump stated during a press release that the military operation was “one of the most powerful, effective, and incredible displays” of U.S. confidence and capability. Further, he indicated that the current U.S. government intends to take advantage of the extensive Venezuelan oil reserves by producing large quantities of oil and exporting it to other nations during a transition to an interim president.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump claimed to have been acting in the role of Venezuela’s interim president and received worldwide criticism for his announcement.
Venezuela’s Constitutional Response
In the aftermath of Mr. Maduro’s removal, the Venezuela Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber quickly acted, on January 3, by directing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take on the responsibilities of Acting President to maintain continuity of government and protect Venezuela’s territorial integrity. Even when taking on this new role, Ms. Rodríguez required the United States to release Mr. Maduro, arguing he is still the legitimate representative of Venezuela while also denouncing foreign intervention in the sovereignty of her country.
Global Reaction and Uncertainty Ahead
The events surrounding these issues have led to a broad range of reactions both politically and internationally, including many countries and organizations expressing their concerns about the legality of U.S. military actions and their implications for international law. While diplomatic relations are strained, the uncertainty about Venezuela’s political future continues due to the competing names for government authority and the increased demands from global organizations to address these issues.