Trump's Viral Post Claims He Is 'Acting President of Venezuela', Shocks the Internet

Washington: US President Donald Trump stirred a global reaction on social media on Sunday. He shared a picture on his platform, Truth Social, that showed his official portrait with the title "Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026."

What does the picture show?

The photo shared on Truth Social shows Trump positioned as the incumbent Venezuelan president as of January 2026.

The image also listed his role as the 45th and 47th President of the United States. It also identified US Vice President JD Vance as his deputy.

The post appears to be a digitally altered image, styled to look like a Wikipedia entry. There was no official statement alongside the image, just the picture itself. 

Why did he do it?

Trump’s post comes amid heightened tension after reported US military action in Venezuela earlier this month. The US carried out strikes, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown to New York on charges including alleged narco-terrorism. 

Earlier reports show that following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s Supreme Court named Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the interim leader. 

Trump has publicly said the US intends to "run Venezuela" temporarily to ensure a stable transition. 

Is this true or official?

There’s no official basis for Trump’s social media claim. No government, Venezuelan, American or international, recognises him as the acting president of Venezuela. 

Experts and fact-checkers note that the image shared was edited and not an official document.

Political analysts see the post as provocative and symbolic rather than a legal or diplomatic announcement.

How are people reacting?

The reaction has been intense online. Some users are mocking the post, calling it exaggerated or absurd. Others have raised concerns about the serious implications of a sitting US president appearing to claim leadership in a foreign nation. Comments range from humour to alarm about norms in international diplomacy.