President Donald Trump stunned the world Sunday, posting a mock Wikipedia page on Truth Social crowning himself "Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026" just days after U.S. forces yanked Nicolas Maduro from Caracas and flew him to New York to face narcoterrorism charges. The viral image, featuring Trump's official portrait alongside his U.S. tenure and JD Vance as VP, followed Trump's vow that America would "run" the oil-rich nation temporarily, overseeing crude sales amid a controlled transition while Maduro's wife Cilia Flores cools in custody too.
Venezuela's interim boss Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's oil minister turned oath-taker, spat fire at the claim Saturday, insisting constitutional power rests with Caracas – not Washington – and demanding her boss's release as "kidnapping" while rejecting foreign rule over 28 million souls. Trump shrugged off the pushback, boasting U.S. pressure freed political prisoners "in a big way" and warning Rodriguez she'd "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro's" if cooperation stalls on oil flows and stability handoffs. China, Russia, and even Colombia slammed the op as sovereignty rape, but Trump touted it as narcostate cleanup echoing Soleimani strikes, with State Department suits now probing diplomatic resets including Caracas visits.
Global wires lit up – Euronews called it unprecedented flex, Time flagged no international nod, while Latin streets split between Maduro martyrs and freedom cheers amid crumbling bolivar and 90% poverty. Trump's post, racking 24k likes, signals no quick exit: "much longer" than months hinted, tying Venezuelan crude to U.S. markets as Rodriguez explores talks but swears people power rules. Aso Rock watches tight post-Obi's "where's the president" jabs, betting Trump's hemispheric hammer reshapes OPEC plays and migration floods. Caracas braces dual rule whispers, oil rigs hum under Yankee eyes – sovereignty surrender or strategic salvage? World awaits Rodriguez's next card.