Trump’s Claim to Be Venezuela’s ‘Acting President’ Is a Social Media Post, Not an Official Position

Washington/Caracas – U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image on his own social media platform Truth Social presenting himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela.” However, this claim has no recognition from any government or international authority and is a digitally altered or unverified social media post, not an official political appointment.

In the post shared on Sunday, Trump’s official portrait appeared with the label “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” along with his designation as the 45th and 47th President of the United States.

This unusual claim follows recent developments in Venezuela, where a U.S. military operation reportedly captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been taken to the United States to face federal charges.

Under Venezuelan law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president by the country’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice. That transition is considered the legitimate constitutional process inside Venezuela.

News outlets reporting on Trump’s post noted that the image appears to be digitally manipulated rather than an official declaration of authority. There is no official documentation or legal basis confirming Trump as Venezuela’s acting president.

Although the post has drawn global attention amid geopolitical developments, experts stress that it is a provocative social media post and not a legally valid appointment.