Trump posts himself as ‘Acting President of Venezuela’

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump on Sunday posted a picture of himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” days after a US military operation that led to the capture of the country's President Nicolas Maduro.

On his social media company Truth Social, Trump posted himself as the acting leader of the South American country as of January 2026.

The US carried out a military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3, capturing Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to try them in a New York court over drug- and weapons-related charges. Trump said his administration would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.

Following Maduro's capture, his vice president, Delcy Rodrigues, was sworn in as interim president.

The country's new government has continued to engage with the Trump administration throughout this period, with a US team of diplomatic and security personnel traveling to Caracas to assess the possibility of resuming operations at the US Embassy.