Donald Trump Calls Himself 'Acting President of Venezuela' In Latest Truth Social Post

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 08:47 IST

Donald Trump called himself the 'Acting President of Venezuela' on Truth Social, just a day after issuing an executive order to ring-fence Venezuelan oil funds in the US.

Donald Trump's Truth Social Post (Credits: X)

In his latest post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump referred to himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela." The post came only a day after Trump moved to tighten control over future Venezuelan oil sales by signing an executive order declaring a national emergency and protecting Venezuelan oil revenues held in the United States.

According to a White House fact sheet, the order blocks creditors from accessing these funds and prevents them from being seized to settle debts or legal claims. The administration said the aim is to keep the money intact so it can be used in line with US foreign policy priorities.

The emergency order states that the Venezuelan oil revenue held in foreign government deposit funds should be used in Venezuela to support “peace, prosperity and stability." It was signed on Friday, just days after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Several companies, including Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, have long-standing claims against Venezuela after their assets were nationalised nearly two decades ago, and both are still owed billions of dollars.

US Captures Venezuela’s Leader Nicolas Maduro

Earlier this month, the United States carried out what it described as a large-scale strike in Venezuela, leading to the capture of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York, where they were formally indicted on charges linked to an alleged narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Following the operation, US President Donald Trump said Washington would temporarily take charge of Venezuela’s administration to oversee a transition. “We will run Venezuela until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind," Trump said.

In Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president and oil minister, was sworn in last week as Venezuela’s interim president, according to official announcements.

Trump has also said that the interim authorities in Venezuela would hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of what he described as “high-quality, sanctioned oil" to the United States. The oil, he said, would be sold at market rates.

“That money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States! I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan immediately. It will be taken by storage ships and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States."

News world Donald Trump Calls Himself 'Acting President of Venezuela' In Latest Truth Social Post

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