In an unprecedented move in world politics, US President Donald Trump has declared himself the “acting president” of Venezuela. In a post on his social media account Truth Social on Sunday, he claimed that he would take office in January 2026.
Trump’s announcement came a week after the US military seized Venezuela’s elected president, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a surprise US military operation in Caracas on January 3 and taken to New York. They are currently being held in a US federal prison on drug trafficking charges. The operation is said to have killed at least 100 people in Venezuela.
Washington has already announced that the United States will take control of Venezuela’s vast oil resources. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States will continue to control Venezuela’s energy sector indefinitely and that the government will play an active role in reform. It has also been said that ownership of the oil will be returned at the appropriate time.
After Maduro was abducted, Venezuela’s Supreme Court declared Vice President Delcy Rodriguez acting president, who is also supported by the military. However, Trump’s announcement has created a demand for dual power in the country, which has further jeopardized Venezuela’s sovereignty and administrative stability.
A heated debate has erupted around the world over whether Trump’s move violates international law and has sparked renewed tensions in Latin American geopolitics.