Tag: US

Donald Trump has declared himself “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026” in a social media post styled like an edited Wikipedia page. The post included his official portrait and listed him as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, the statement was said. The claim is not reflected on Wikipedia and has not been recognized by any international organization, the report was said. The announcement followed a United States military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges. The operation came after months of US pressure, sanctions, and military activity targeting Venezuela, the report was said. Maduro has described his removal as a “kidnapping,” while countries including China, Russia, Colombia, and Spain condemned the action as a violation of international law, analysts said. Hours after Maduro’s ouster, Trump announced that the United States would temporarily govern Venezuela, citing security concerns and the need for a controlled transition, the statement was said. He added that the US would oversee Venezuelan oil production and sales to global markets during this period, the statement was said. Inside Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim President by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. Rodríguez rejected US authority, demanded Maduro’s release, and reaffirmed him as the nation’s rightful leader, the report was said. Trump warned that Rodríguez could “pay a very big price” if she did not cooperate, suggesting the consequences could be even more severe than those facing Maduro, who remains in US custody, the statement was said. Trump also took credit after Venezuelan authorities announced the release of political prisoners as a gesture toward peace. On Truth Social, he said the releases had occurred “in a big way” following US action and warned the freed prisoners to “never forget it,” the statement was said. The US President further called on major American oil companies to invest up to $100 billion in Venezuela to expand the country’s oil production. He said the US would determine which companies could operate in Venezuela and assist in rebuilding its oil sector, the statement was said. He also praised an agreement with Venezuela’s interim leadership to supply 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States, adding that deliveries could continue indefinitely and help lower US energy prices, the statement was said.

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States carried out a major strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.” CNN reporters in Caracas observed multiple explosions and heard aircraft flying overhead in the early hours of Saturday. Several areas of the city experienced power outages following the blasts, with the first explosion recorded around 1:50 a.m. local time (12:50 a.m. ET). In recent weeks, Trump had repeatedly warned that the US was preparing action against alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking networks, stating that strikes on land would commence “soon.” His campaign against Maduro has already targeted over 30 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as part of a counter-narcotics operation. Last month, Trump also imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Earlier, in December, the CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike on a coastal port facility in Venezuela, marking the first known US attack inside the country, CNN reported, citing sources.