'Incumbent January 2026': Trump posts fake image; calls himself 'Acting President of Venezuela'

US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared an image of his Wikipedia page that described him as the “Acting President of Venezuela”.

Shared on Truth Social, the image listed Trump as assuming office on January 20, 2025, and remaining incumbent as of January 2026. It also identified US Vice President JD Vance as his deputy.




However, the image appeared doctored, as no official documentation or legal framework exists indicating that the US president holds any governing role in Venezuela as of now.

The controversial post comes amid major political and military developments in Venezuela following a US-led operation that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained during a US military operation in Caracas and flown to New York.

The pair are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and face federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated by the US as terrorist organisations. Maduro, however, has denied the allegations.

US officials told CBS News that the operation was carried out by the US Army’s Delta Force following months of military build-up in the region, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and other naval assets in the Caribbean.

Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s vice president and oil minister, Delcy Rodríguez, was formally sworn in last week as the country’s interim president. Rodríguez, a 56-year-old lawyer and senior figure within the ruling political movement, took the oath before the National Assembly, which is headed by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez.

A total of 283 lawmakers elected in parliamentary elections held in May were also sworn in. Most opposition parties boycotted the vote, leaving the legislature dominated by pro-government figures. The only lawmaker absent from the ceremony was Cilia Flores, who remains in US custody, Reuters reported.

Earlier, in a statement made in Washington, US President Trump said that the United States would “run” Venezuela temporarily during a transition period and would “get the oil flowing”. He later said the US was “in charge” of Venezuela. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to clarify the administration’s position, saying the US does not intend to directly govern the country but will enforce an “oil quarantine” as part of efforts to influence policy outcomes.