US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by declaring himself the “Acting President of Venezuela” on his Truth Social platform, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump shared an image resembling a Wikipedia page, listing him as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States and “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026”.
This move comes after the US carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, capturing Maduro and his wife, who were flown to New York and indicted on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. Trump stated the US would “run Venezuela” temporarily, citing security concerns and the need for a controlled transition, and plans to oversee and sell Venezuelan oil to global markets.
