Trump claims ‘interim president' of Venezuela, vows to manage oil sales

Venezuela’s political crisis took a dramatic and controversial turn after US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social claiming to be the country’s “interim president,” a move that has sparked international attention and debate, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday.

In a post styled like a mock Wikipedia page, Trump described himself as “Interim President of Venezuela from January 2026,” and said that during this period he would oversee the sale of Venezuela’s oil on the international market.

In his remarks, Trump said he would oversee the sale of Venezuela’s oil on the international market during the transitional phase.

The post surfaced following reports circulating in US political circles that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained during a US military operation and transferred to New York, where Maduro is reportedly facing drug trafficking and other criminal charges.

These claims have not been independently verified by Venezuelan authorities.

Following Maduro’s reported detention, Venezuela’s Supreme Court announced Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, a move she has defended as constitutional.

Rodríguez has demanded Maduro’s release and offered dialogue and cooperation with the United States to resolve the crisis.

Earlier, Trump had stated that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s administration, adding that Washington would work toward establishing a secure and appropriate transitional framework for the country.

Trump’s latest post has intensified debate over US involvement in Venezuela, raising fresh questions about sovereignty, international law, and the future political direction of the crisis-hit nation.