SRINAGAR: US President Donald Trump described himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela” in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, amid increased US involvement in Venezuela’s political transition and the management of its oil revenues.
The post included a digitally created image resembling a Wikipedia entry, listing Trump as “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” alongside his position as President of the United States. There has been no official recognition of such a designation under Venezuelan law or by international bodies.
The statement came days after Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency to protect Venezuelan oil revenues held in US Treasury accounts from seizure by creditors or courts. The White House said the move was intended to preserve the funds for use in line with US foreign policy objectives towards Venezuela.
According to the administration, the order blocks judicial actions such as attachment, judgment or garnishment against foreign government deposit funds generated from Venezuelan oil sales, keeping the revenues under US control for political and economic purposes.
Trump’s remarks also followed reports of a US military operation earlier this month in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken into US custody to face legal charges. After Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Vice-President and Oil Minister, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as interim president.
Trump has said the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s administration and manage its oil resources during the transition period, highlighting Washington’s strategic interest in the country’s energy sector.
The development has drawn international scrutiny, with critics questioning the legality and implications of a sitting US president claiming authority over another sovereign nation’s leadership and natural resources.
