US President Donald Trump has shared a social media image that depicts him as the “Acting President of Venezuela”, triggering fresh debate around Washington’s posture towards Caracas.
The image appears to show an edited Wikipedia entry. It lists Trump as the “incumbent Venezuelan president” from January 2026, while also noting his official roles as the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
The post comes at a moment of heightened US engagement with Venezuela, especially on oil and regional diplomacy.
Trump points to oil deal and improving ties with Caracas
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said relations with Venezuela’s leadership were progressing.
“Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with the leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” he said, when asked about ties with Caracas after the US raid that removed Nicolas Maduro from power.
Trump said Venezuela had requested that the US accept a large oil shipment.
“She asked us, can we take 50 million barrels of oil? And I said, yes we can,” he said. “It’s $4 billion, $4.2 billion, and it’s on its way right now to the United States.”
He added that American oil companies were showing strong interest in Venezuela, but criticised ExxonMobil.
“I didn’t like Exxon’s response,” Trump said. “They’re playing too cute.”
On assurances to energy firms, he said: “Guarantees that they’re gonna be safe, that there’s gonna be no problem, and there will be. There’s not gonna be a problem.”
Meetings hinted with Venezuelan leaders and opposition
Trump said he may meet Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in the future.
“At some point I’ll meet. Yeah, she’s been very good,” he said.
He also suggested that talks with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado were likely soon.
“I hear Tuesday or Wednesday. I look forward to that,” Trump said.
The President blamed earlier difficulties in US-Venezuela relations on previous American administrations.
“They had problems in the past because they didn’t have Trump as a president,” he said.
Trump also briefly referred to discussions involving Cuba, without giving details.
“You’re gonna find out pretty soon,” he said.
Earlier, Trump posted that Venezuela would no longer send “oil or money” to Cuba, and said the US military would help enforce separation between the two countries.
“Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” he wrote.
“Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will,” Trump added.