On January 11, 2026, President Donald Trump shared a fabricated Wikipedia page on his Truth Social platform, designating himself as the "Acting President of Venezuela." This action was interpreted by some as a critique of Delcy Rodríguez, who has assumed leadership following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently detained in Brooklyn, New York, facing charges related to narco-terrorism. Despite his arrest, Maduro maintains that he is the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

In the wake of Maduro's removal, Trump indicated that the U.S. would oversee the country until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" could be established, implying a potential long-term U.S. presence. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. does not plan to engage in direct governance but will instead exert economic pressure through sanctions and an oil "quarantine" to influence Venezuela's political landscape.

The U.S. currently has no permanent military or diplomatic presence in Venezuela. Protests erupted in Caracas, with thousands of Maduro supporters denouncing U.S. actions as violations of national sovereignty and labeling them as "colonial aggression." Protesters displayed signs demanding the release of Maduro and criticized U.S. involvement.

Rodríguez has publicly rejected the notion that the U.S. is controlling Venezuela, asserting that her government is sovereign. Nevertheless, reports indicate that she is negotiating with the Trump administration to avert further military actions, following Trump's threats of significant consequences if U.S. demands are not met. Social media commentary has highlighted skepticism regarding the U.S. administration's capability to manage foreign affairs, with some users questioning Trump's ability to govern effectively.

Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) criticized Trump's self-declaration as "acting president" while neglecting domestic issues affecting American families. Critics have described the U.S. approach to Venezuela as an extortion scheme, suggesting that the administration's demands for oil in exchange for political support reflect a troubling dynamic in international relations.