President Donald Trump has again caused an international stir by sharing a ‘photo claiming “Acting President of Venezuela”, just days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores by US.
What did Trump post?
On Truth Social, Trump shared a manipulated Wikipedia‑style image showing his official portrait with the caption “Acting President of Venezuela” beneath it. The post drew attention online and did not reflect any official change in Venezuela’s leadership.
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He also joked about Marco Rubio as the President of Cuba.
These jokes come as the world has taken an interest in the recent US arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
What happened after Maduro’s capture?
Maduro and Flores were arrested on January 3 and made an appearance before the federal court in New York on drug-related charges. Maduro has contested the arrest because the move violates international laws and the doctrine of sovereign immunity.
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After the operation, Trump asserted that the US would "run" Venezuela during the transition period, ensuring to “get the oil flowing. On January 4, Trump declared that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela.
US clarifies its role
As per a report by the Hindustan Times, despite Trump's comments, US officials have been more circumspect in describing their stance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that Washington does not plan to run Venezuela directly and will maintain leverage via a pre-existing “oil quarantine” as part of an overall strategy to guide policy in Caracas.
In Venezuela, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice did not tarry to ensure continuity in their regime. The filling of the position, in accordance with the constitutional line of succession upon Maduro's removal, went to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
