US, Jan 12: President Donald Trump has posted an image on his social media platform Truth Social depicting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” prompting fresh debate over Washington’s posture toward Caracas and its broader regional engagement.
The digitally altered image lists Trump as “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” alongside his official titles as the 45th and 47th President of the United States. The post comes amid heightened US involvement with Venezuela, particularly following a recent military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were taken into US custody and face criminal charges in New York.
Asked about ties with Caracas while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said relations were progressing. “Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with the leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” he said when questioned about diplomatic and energy cooperation following the US operation.
Trump also highlighted an oil deal with Caracas, saying the Venezuelan government asked if the US could take a large oil shipment — “50 million barrels” worth, valued at around $4 billion — and he agreed. He added that American energy companies are showing strong interest in Venezuelan oil, though he criticised ExxonMobil’s response to the opportunity.
On the diplomatic front, Trump suggested he might meet Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in the future, calling her “very good.” He also hinted at talks with opposition leader María Corina Machado, potentially as early as midweek.
Earlier posts by Trump included statements aimed at Cuba, warning that Venezuela would no longer send oil or money to the island and asserting that the US military would help enforce a separation between the two nations.
The provocative social media image has drawn significant public and media attention, reflecting the controversial and evolving nature of US-Venezuela relations in recent weeks.