Donald Trump has self-proclaimed himself as the “acting President of Venezuela” by sharing a fabricated Wikipedia page on his social media platform. The post on Truth Social depicts Trump as the ‘incumbent’ starting from January 2026, following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, seemingly taking a jab at the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez.
After the U.S. forces apprehended Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3 from Caracas, Maduro’s former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was inaugurated last week. Maduro, who has denied narco-terrorism charges, asserts his legitimacy as the rightful leader of Venezuela.
The counterfeit Wikipedia entry features Trump’s official portrait from his assumption of the U.S. presidency last year, labeling him as the “acting President of Venezuela” alongside his role as the President of the United States.
Following Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration announced its intention to oversee Venezuela until it achieves stability and self-governance, without specifying a timeline. Critics suggest Trump’s interest in Venezuela lies in its resources, as evidenced by his meetings with oil company executives and efforts to control oil distribution.
Despite Venezuela possessing the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, its daily production averages only about one million barrels, significantly lower than the U.S.’s 13.9 million barrels per day in October.
The White House justifies its actions in Venezuela as an economic endeavor, with Trump authorizing the seizure of tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, taking charge of sales of previously sanctioned crude oil, and planning to regulate global sales indefinitely.
Acting President Rodriguez has pushed back against Trump’s directives, warning of consequences worse than Maduro’s if she fails to comply with U.S. demands to align Venezuela with American interests, including granting access to U.S. energy companies.
In response to threats, Rodriguez emphasized her faith, stating, “My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”