President Donald Trump sparked fresh controversy this week by sharing a digitally altered image on his social media platform claiming that he is the “Acting President of Venezuela.” The manipulated graphic showed a mock Wikipedia page with Trump’s photo and the false title beneath it — a post widely circulated online.
- The image appears to be engineered or satirical, and is not an official or legally valid statement about Venezuela’s leadership.
- Trump also jokingly shared a post suggesting U.S. Senator Marco Rubio could be the “President of Cuba,” with the caption, “Sounds good to me.”
What Really Happened After Nicolás Maduro’s Capture
Late last week, U.S. forces carried out a military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to U.S. officials. The pair were reportedly flown to the United States to face federal charges related to narcotics and weapons violations.
- Maduro has pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan federal court and has denounced the operation as a “kidnapping.”
- Following the capture, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, was sworn in as interim president of Venezuela through domestic constitutional processes.
- The international community has reacted with mixed responses, with several nations and legal experts questioning the legality of the U.S. action under international law.
Current Situation in Venezuela
Despite Trump’s social media posts and remarks about U.S. influence over Venezuela’s future, there is no legal basis for a U.S. president to serve as the acting head of state of another sovereign nation. Venezuela’s internal leadership remains under the interim authority of its constitution and Supreme Tribunal of Justice, not American executive power.
Trump’s claim of being “Acting President of Venezuela” is based on a fabricated image and not supported by any constitutional or international process. The real political transition in Venezuela is unfolding through domestic institutions after the controversial capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro. The situation continues to draw global scrutiny and legal debate.
