Following the US strike at Venezuela and capturing of Venezuelan President Amduro, Delcy Rodriguez was appointed as the acting President of Venezuela. Now in a turn of events, a photo emerged on social media where Donald Trump has announced himself as the acting President of Venezuela.
Donald Trump put out a photo on his Truth Social handle on Sunday, portraying himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela”.
The social media post with the Wikipedia-style edited image presented Trump as the incumbent president of Venezuela as of January 2026.
The post, shared on Sunday, featured Trump’s official portrait with the designation “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026”. The image also listed him as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, noting that he assumed office on January 20, 2025.
The unusual claim came weeks after the United States carried out what it called a “large-scale” military strike in Venezuela. During the operation, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and transported to New York, where both are facing indictments on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.
Trump has since said the United States would oversee Venezuela’s administration until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is achieved, arguing that allowing another leadership vacuum could harm Venezuelan interests.
Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Vice President and Oil Minister, Delcy Rodriguez, was formally sworn in last week as the country’s Interim President.
Trump has also claimed that the interim authorities would hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of what he described as “high-quality, sanctioned oil” to the United States. According to him, the oil would be sold at market rates, with proceeds controlled by the US administration to benefit both countries.
Venezuela to give 3–5 crore barrels of restricted oil to the US
US President Donald Trump said Venezuela’s interim president will hand over 3 to 5 crore barrels of restricted oil to the United States. He said the oil will be sold at market prices, and the US will control the money earned from the sale.
The value of 5 crore barrels of crude oil is estimated at around ₹25,000 crore. Trump said the money will be used for the benefit of the people of both Venezuela and the US.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he has asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to carry out the plan immediately. The oil will be shipped directly to US ports using storage vessels.
Trump Warned acting president Delcy of ‘consequences’
Maduro’s second-in-command, Delcy Rodriguez, took the oath as interim President. Rodriguez rejected US claims of authority, demanded Maduro’s release, and declared him the nation’s rightful leader.
Trump warned that Rodriguez could “pay a very big price” if she did not cooperate with the US. Trump suggested her consequences could be even more severe than Maduro’s, who is being held in New York on narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges.
Trump also claimed credit after Venezuela announced it would release a number of political prisoners as a gesture to “seek peace.” On Truth Social, he said that the releases had occurred “in a big way” following US action and warned the freed prisoners to “never forget it.”
Trump captured Venezuelan oil barrels
Following the Venezuelan strike, Donald Trump on Tuesday said that US will acquire 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela. Trump said the proceeds from the sale would be used “to benefit the people” of both countries. The White House is scheduled to meet executives from US oil companies Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips on Friday to discuss Venezuela, as the Trump administration seeks to expand the country’s vast but struggling oil sector.
President Maduro was captured by US
The US on Saturday after an airstrike on Venezuela’s Carcas captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores faced charges in the United States, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offences.
President Donald Trump has said the US is “going to run” Venezuela temporarily and will tap into its oil reserves. Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has maintained that Venezuela will defend its resources.
Also Read| Donald Trump Says US Will Get 30-50 Million Barrels of Oil Worth $2.8 Billion From Venezuela
