Trump shares altered image claiming Venezuela presidency

Monday 12 January 2026 - 07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Trump shares altered image claiming Venezuela presidency

President Donald Trump ignited fresh controversy by posting a doctored image on Truth Social, portraying himself as Venezuela's interim president. The graphic, styled like a Wikipedia profile, lists him as holding the office since January 2026, alongside his roles as the 45th and 47th U.S. president. It also names Vice President J.D. Vance as his deputy. Trump shared it without comment, even as Wikipedia showed no such edits.

The post came days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a January 3 operation dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolution." Delta Force commandos seized the pair in Caracas and flew them to New York to face narcoterrorism charges. Maduro entered a not guilty plea on January 5, calling himself a prisoner of war and insisting he remains Venezuela's legitimate president.

Venezuela's Supreme Court then directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to serve as interim leader. Trump's image appeared to assert U.S. dominance in the nation's transition. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said he expects to visit Venezuela and meet Rodríguez soon, warning she could face consequences worse than Maduro's without cooperation.

Trump has vowed that the U.S. will guide Venezuela through a secure transition. His administration now oversees Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright stating proceeds will flow into U.S.-controlled accounts.

In a separate Sunday post, Trump endorsed the notion of Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Cuba's president, replying "That works for me!" to a social media idea. This followed his alert to Havana that Venezuelan oil and funds will no longer reach the island, urging Cuba to negotiate before it's too late. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel fired back on X, declaring Cuba a free, independent, and sovereign nation ready to defend itself to the last drop of blood.