In a controversial online post, former US President Donald Trump shared a fabricated version of his Wikipedia biography, which falsely listed him as the 'Acting President of Venezuela.' The post was made on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, January 4, 2026, following a dramatic military intervention in the South American nation.
US Military Operation and Maduro's Capture
The context for Trump's social media jest was a significant real-world event. According to reports, U.S. forces entered Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026. The operation resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were subsequently transported to New York City to face formal narco-terrorism charges.
Maduro entered a plea of not guilty in a Manhattan court, maintaining his position as Venezuela's legitimate head of state. In response to the operation, Trump, accompanied by senior officials, announced that Washington would temporarily administer Venezuela's government. The stated goal was to stabilise the country and pave the way for free and fair elections.
Washington's Temporary Oversight Committee
The US administration outlined a plan for a temporary power structure to be managed by a select committee. This group was reportedly to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with President Trump remaining heavily involved. Other notable members said to be on the committee included:
- Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe
- White House adviser Stephen Miller
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, was strongly advised to cooperate with this US-led committee. Trump later stated he had cancelled a planned second wave of military action against Venezuela because Rodriguez was complying.
Oil, Cuba, and Geopolitical Fallout
The situation triggered immediate discussions about Venezuela's vast natural resources. Trump met with executives from major American oil firms, including ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods. Woods expressed deep scepticism, declaring Venezuela 'uninvestable' due to a history of asset seizures and unstable legal frameworks. Trump, visibly annoyed, later told reporters he was 'inclined to keep Exxon out' of any future deals.
Furthermore, Trump used Truth Social to issue a threat to Cuba, a long-time ally of the Maduro regime. He declared that Cuba would no longer receive oil and financial support from Venezuela, joking that Marco Rubio could be installed as the island's next leader. Rubio himself issued a warning to Havana, criticising the Cuban government for propping up Maduro.
This bold move in Venezuela has led to global speculation about which nations the US might target next, raising concerns about further military interventions and geopolitical instability.
