Kathrine Frich
Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy online after sharing an image that appeared to declare him the leader of another country.
The post quickly drew attention from supporters and critics alike, adding to tensions already surrounding events in South America.
The image itself raised questions about intent, legality and the state of relations between Washington and Caracas.
Social media stunt
Trump uploaded the image to his Truth Social account on January 11, according to the Daily Express.
The graphic was designed to look like a Wikipedia entry and showed Trump described as the “Acting President of Venezuela.”
The mock page included his official presidential portrait and referenced his time as the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
It did not appear on Wikipedia itself and has not been recognised by any international organisation.
Online users rapidly shared the image, with reactions ranging from ridicule to praise. Some commenters described it as satire, while others viewed it as a deliberate provocation.
Power shift in Caracas
The post comes days after Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on January 5, 2026, following a sudden change in leadership. She had served as Nicolás Maduro’s deputy before taking the oath.
Rodríguez said she was distressed by what she called the “kidnapping” of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, after U.S. forces detained them.
The remarks were broadcast to the Venezuelan public in a televised address.
Her interim leadership has been rejected by Washington, which has defended its actions as part of a long-running effort to confront the Maduro government.
U.S. operation fallout
According to the Daily Express, U.S. forces captured Maduro in Caracas in January 2026 and transferred him to New York. He is now in federal custody facing drug-related charges.
Maduro pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court last week and insisted he remained Venezuela’s legitimate leader despite being detained.
The operation followed months of sanctions and military pressure on the oil-rich country.
Trump has since warned Venezuela’s new leadership that further consequences could follow if it fails to “do what’s right,” comments he made in an interview with The Atlantic.
Global reaction grows
Several governments, including China, Russia, Colombia and Spain, condemned the U.S. action, calling it a breach of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.
Concerns were also raised at the United Nations about the legality of the intervention and the precedent it may set.
Online reactions to Trump’s post included remarks such as:
“This guy thrives on controversy,” “Someone should tell him the regime missed the memo,” and “Wikipedia edit pranks are always spot on and genuinely funny.”
Sources: Daily Express, The Atlantic
