Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again sparked international controversy with a sensational claim on social media, declaring himself the “Acting President” of Venezuela. The statement, shared on his social media platform *Truth Social*, has quickly gone viral and drawn widespread attention.
In the post, Trump shared an edited image resembling a Wikipedia page along with his official photograph, stating that he had assumed the role of Venezuela’s interim president from January this year. He also described himself as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, noting that he took office on January 20, 2025. The unusual claim has generated intense discussion across global political circles.
The post comes against the backdrop of recent US military action against Venezuela, reportedly undertaken in the name of curbing illegal drug trafficking. US forces allegedly carried out strikes on the capital, Caracas, and detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple were later shifted to the United States and are currently in custody in New York, facing legal proceedings on charges of narco-terrorism.
Following these developments, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed charge as interim president. The country’s Defence Minister announced that she would remain in office for 90 days. However, uncertainty persists over who will take over as Venezuela’s permanent president. While there was speculation that opposition leader and Nobel laureate Machado could be chosen, Trump reportedly opposed the move, stating that she lacks sufficient public support.
Amid this political uncertainty, Trump’s assertion that he himself is Venezuela’s acting president has become a major talking point. He claimed that the United States is managing Venezuela’s affairs in the interest of its people and said that US control would continue until a safe, fair, and prudent transfer of power is achieved.