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President Donald Trump is once again stirring controversy after posting an image on social media that labels him the “acting president of Venezuela,” a move critics say crosses from political showmanship into dangerous territory.
The image, shared Sunday on Trump’s Truth Social platform, resembled a mock Wikipedia entry claiming Trump would take on the role in January 2026. It came just weeks after the U.S. military removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges, an operation Trump ordered without congressional approval.
The move drew bipartisan criticism in the Senate, with lawmakers questioning both its legality and the broader implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
Maduro’s former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, is serving as interim leader, but Trump has suggested the United States will oversee the country during a transition period. His latest post appears to reinforce that message, at least symbolically.
The controversy also comes as Trump openly discusses Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, raising concerns that energy interests are shaping Washington’s approach.
While supporters dismissed the post as typical Trump provocation, critics warned it risks inflaming tensions and undermining international norms at a volatile moment for the region.
*With information from HuffPost and NBC News
