Reports circulating online claim that former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared himself the “Acting President” of Venezuela, following what has been described as a dramatic U.S. military operation targeting the country’s leadership.
According to these accounts, Trump posted an image on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, January 11, suggesting he had assumed an interim leadership role over the South American nation. The post appeared roughly a week after an alleged overnight operation by elite U.S. forces that reportedly resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
However, Venezuelan officials quickly moved to maintain internal control. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was reported to have taken charge of the government shortly after Maduro’s arrest, signaling that Venezuela’s political structure remained intact despite the claims being made abroad.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, were reportedly detained during the early-morning raid on Saturday, January 3. Maduro has long been labeled a dictator by U.S. officials and was indicted in 2020 by a federal court in New York on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism allegations his government has consistently denied.
In the days that followed, Trump reportedly suggested that Venezuela would begin transferring millions of barrels of oil to the United States. He claimed the oil would be sold at market prices, with revenues placed under his control statements that immediately raised eyebrows among international observers and energy analysts.
On Friday, January 9, Trump reportedly met with major oil executives, seeking to raise as much as $100 billion to develop Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Industry leaders were said to be cautious, citing Venezuela’s history of political instability, nationalization of assets, and legal uncertainty.
During the meeting, Trump reportedly stated that large U.S. oil companies would fund the effort themselves, emphasizing that while government financing would not be required, government “protection” would be essential.
These developments have fueled broader concerns among global leaders and analysts about U.S. foreign policy ambitions. Some have pointed to Trump’s previous remarks about other regions, including Greenland, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, and Iran, as evidence of an increasingly aggressive posture.
Greenland, in particular, has been a recurring subject of Trump’s interest. Past reports indicate that he discussed multiple options for acquiring the autonomous Danish territory, prompting strong reactions across Europe.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and several European leaders have publicly expressed alarm, urging the United States to step back from rhetoric suggesting territorial takeovers and warning of serious diplomatic consequences if such threats were pursued.
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