Donald Trump has once again stirred the international scene with one of his characteristic digital provocations.
On Sunday, the former President of the United States shared an image on his Truth Social account that mimicked a Wikipedia page, describing him as the "interim president of Venezuela, holding office since January 2026."
The image featured his official portrait and the added title alongside "45th and 47th President of the United States," without any further commentary. This sparked a storm of political and media reactions.
The post came just a week after a U.S. military operation in Caracas, where special forces apprehended Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face federal charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.
In the aftermath, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez took on the role temporarily, condemning the "kidnapping" of the Venezuelan leader, while Washington announced plans to manage a "controlled transition" before calling for elections.
Outlets like Yahoo News and NDTV reported that Trump told Fox News he would allow elections "eventually," but first intends to "rebuild Venezuela's oil infrastructure."
He also admitted to notifying U.S. oil companies of his plans prior to the operation, inviting them to invest up to $100 billion in the country.
This symbolic gesture of declaring himself the interim leader of the oil-rich nation was viewed as an extension of his interventionist strategy: to consolidate control over Venezuela's resources while exerting pressure on Delcy Rodríguez to cooperate with Washington.
Though the post is not featured on the real Wikipedia and hasn't been recognized by any international bodies, it reinforces the perception that Trump is willing to openly take on the role of "de facto governor" of Venezuela, a nation he claims the United States will "protect and manage until it is free once again."
Understanding Trump's Declaration and Its Implications
What did Trump declare on Truth Social?
Trump posted an image on Truth Social depicting himself as the "interim president of Venezuela," which sparked significant media and political reactions.
What was the U.S. military operation in Caracas about?
The operation involved U.S. special forces capturing Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, who were then brought to New York to face federal charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.
How did the Venezuelan government respond to the capture of Maduro?
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed a provisional leadership role and condemned the action as a "kidnapping" while the U.S. planned a "controlled transition."
What are Trump's plans for Venezuela's future?
Trump expressed intentions to rebuild Venezuela's oil infrastructure before allowing elections, seeking substantial investments from U.S. oil companies.