Did Donald Trump Declare Himself ‘Acting President of Venezuela’? US Prez Shares Post After Maduro’s Capture

Donald Trump posted a digitally edited graphic on Truth Social claiming the role of "Acting President of Venezuela", even though Venezuela's own institutions had already set up an interim leadership. The post appeared soon after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores.

The image used Trump's official Wikipedia portrait, with the line "Acting President of Venezuela" placed below. The post quickly drew attention because Venezuela's constitutional process had already defined who would temporarily lead the country following Maduro's removal from office.

Trump Acting President of Venezuela claim and online posts

On Truth Social, Trump also reacted to another online claim suggesting Marco Rubio was President of Cuba. Trump shared that message with the caption "Sounds good to me." The light tone contrasted with the serious dispute over authority in Venezuela and the wider diplomatic fallout.

Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice played the central role in handling the power vacuum. To keep the executive branch functioning, judges ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to act as president. The court said this step followed constitutional limits on who may replace Maduro after the capture.

Trump Acting President of Venezuela comments on control and oil

Maduro was captured on January 3, after which Trump spoke at a press conference about next steps. Trump said the United States would "run" Venezuela to "get the oil flowing." On January 4, Trump further stated that the United States was "in charge" of Venezuela.

Washington's broader policy included an "oil quarantine" on Venezuela, aimed at squeezing revenue from energy exports. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested on Sunday that the United States did not plan to directly administer the country, despite Trump's assertive language about control.

Trump Acting President of Venezuela dispute, legal process and tensions

Venezuelan authorities insisted that internal mechanisms, not any foreign leader, determined interim governance. Officials stressed that the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and constitutional succession, rather than a U.S. president, created the acting presidency. This position clashed with Trump's online self-designation.

Maduro's arraignment in a U.S. court on federal charges further strained relations. Maduro continued to challenge the arrest and argued that the capture breached international law and sovereign immunity. The situation unfolded alongside debates over earlier warnings such as "With Venezuela raid, US tells China to keep away from the Americas" and "Trump's Venezuela-like threat to Cuba: 'Make deal before too late'".