Former US President Donald Trump has humorously referred to himself as the “acting President of Venezuela” by sharing a fabricated Wikipedia page on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The post on Truth Social depicts Trump as the ‘incumbent’ of Venezuela since January 2026, coinciding with the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This move seems to be a subtle jab at Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez.
Maduro’s ex-vice president, Rodriguez, assumed office recently after US forces apprehended Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3 in Caracas. The couple has since faced narco-terrorism charges in New York, with Maduro asserting his legitimacy as Venezuela’s rightful leader.
The spoof Wikipedia entry showcases Trump’s official portrait from his US presidency inauguration, labeling him as the “acting President of Venezuela” in addition to his role as the President of the United States.
Following Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration declared that the US would oversee Venezuela until it achieved stability for self-governance, although no specific timeline has been provided.
Amid skepticism regarding Trump’s motives in Venezuela, particularly related to its resources, the former president met with oil industry executives to discuss potential control over oil distribution, considering Venezuela’s substantial crude oil reserves.
Despite possessing the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, Venezuela’s daily oil production averages around one million barrels, significantly lower than the US’s output of 13.9 million barrels per day in October.
The White House has positioned its involvement in Venezuela as an economic strategy, with Trump ordering the seizure of tankers carrying Venezuelan oil and asserting control over the sales of previously sanctioned Venezuelan crude. The US intends to manage global sales indefinitely.
Acting President Rodriguez has rebuffed Trump’s actions, warning that she will not succumb to pressure to align Venezuela’s interests with those of the US, especially regarding access for American energy companies. In response to threats, Rodriguez emphasized that her fate is determined by a higher power, not external influences.
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