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Donald Trump describes himself as acting president of Venezuela in social media post
Trump said he is working well with Venezuela’s new interim leadership and expressed interest in meeting with Delcy Rodríguez
- PUBLISHED: Mon 12 Jan 2026, 8:56 AM
- By:
- Salma El Omla
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US President Donald Trump has drawn international attention by posting on social media an image claiming to be the “Acting President of Venezuela,” a move that comes amid heightened tensions following a US military operation on January 3 in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Trump made the assertion on his Truth Social platform on Monday, sharing a Wikipedia-style profile page that listed him as the incumbent acting president of Venezuela, alongside his role as President of the United States. It also identified US Vice President JD Vance as his deputy.
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However, no official documentation or legal framework exists indicating that the US President holds any governing role in Venezuela as of now. Earlier, Trump said the US would temporarily "run" Venezuela during a transition and would "get the oil flowing." He later stated that the US was "in charge" of Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the US does not plan to directly govern Venezuela but will enforce an "oil quarantine" to influence policy.
The post was published as Trump signalled interest in meeting with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in by the Venezuelan parliament two days after US forces seized Maduro, according to local media accounts.
“Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with the leadership,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. Asked whether he planned to meet Rodriguez, he said, “At some point I’ll be.”
US attacks Venezuela
On January 3, US forces carried out a major strike in Venezuela’s capital, resulting in Maduro and his wife being removed from power and flown to New York to face federal charges, an action that has drawn widespread international scrutiny and legal debate. 
In the aftermath, Trump asserted that the United States would “run” Venezuela until a secure transition could be achieved. Trump also indicated that US troops could be deployed in Venezuela if necessary, saying the US is “not afraid of boots on the ground.”
Trump has said that American oil companies could play a significant role in reviving Venezuela’s beleaguered energy sector, envisioning US investment and access to oil infrastructure as part of a broader recovery plan. 
Trump has publicly stated he wants interim President Rodríguez to grant the US and private firms “total access” to Venezuela’s oil industry. 
According to Trump, this strategy is already underway: on January 9, he said the world’s largest oil companies pledged $100 billion to help revive Venezuela’s oil sector as he prepared for a meeting with top industry leaders.
