Venezuela: US President Donald Trump posted an image on his Truth Social account on Sunday, showing himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” with the designation effective January 2026. The post comes amid Trump’s remarks highlighting cooperation with Venezuela’s leadership, particularly regarding oil shipments and diplomatic engagement.
In his Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump recognises himself as the ‘Acting President of Venezuela’ pic.twitter.com/A23DlWqIBw
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with the leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” when asked about relations with the new government in Caracas after the US operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power.
#WATCH | On the situation in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump says, “Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with their leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out.”
On his meeting with the acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, US… pic.twitter.com/Oqkw7soZlN
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026
Earlier this month, the United States conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were flown to New York and indicted on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges, marking an unprecedented US intervention in Venezuelan politics.
Who Will Run Venezuela Now?
Trump stated that the US would govern Venezuela temporarily “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He emphasized, “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”
Venezuelan Oil to Be Transferred to US Under Trump
The US plan includes transferring 30 to 50 million barrels of high-quality Venezuelan oil to the United States. Trump declared that he would control the proceeds to ensure they benefit both Americans and Venezuelans. “I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan immediately,” he said. The oil will be transported by storage ships directly to US unloading docks.
What will be the role of Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez under Trump?
Following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the country’s interim president. She will oversee the day-to-day functioning of the government under US supervision until the transition plan is implemented.
Former Venezuelan President Maduro Appears in US Court, Pleads Not Guilty
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores appeared in a New York court, where they pleaded not guilty to charges related to narcotics trafficking and terrorism. This legal action underscores the US commitment to hold Venezuelan leaders accountable while maintaining direct control over the country’s strategic resources.
What was Trump’s Motive Behind capture of Former President Maduro?
In the early hours of January 3, the United States launched a military operation across Venezuela, including in the capital Caracas, where President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were staying and were eventually captured.
“It’s not about drugs,” critics noted, saying the Trump administration used anti‑narcotics as justification but also aimed to force regime change in Venezuela, a nation that Trump described as allowing foreign rivals to operate and acquire weapons that threaten US security.
Trump has also expressed a desire to control Venezuela’s oil industry, claiming the country had “stolen” its oil from the US in the past. He said that as his administration “runs” Venezuela, it would fix the country’s “badly broken” oil infrastructure and improve its oil refining and production systems
