Trump Declares Himself Acting President of Venezuela After Maduro Capture
January 12, 2026 10:07 PM IST

Trump Declares Himself Acting President of Venezuela After Maduro Capture

Desk Correspondent , Venezuela - In a stunning escalation of American foreign policy, U.S. President Donald Trump has officially declared himself the "Acting President" of Venezuela. This extraordinary announcement comes just days after the dramatic capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S.-backed forces, an event that has left a power vacuum in the oil-rich nation. Trump asserted that this move is a "temporary and necessary step" to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy and to oversee the immediate distribution of humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people, who have suffered under years of economic collapse and authoritarian rule.

The declaration has sent shockwaves through the international community, drawing immediate and varied reactions from global powers. While many opposition leaders within Venezuela and several regional allies have welcomed the move as a definitive end to the Maduro era, critics and traditional adversaries like Russia and China have condemned it as a violation of international law and national sovereignty. The Kremlin described the move as "unprecedented meddling," while the U.S. State Department maintained that the action is legally justified under emergency protocols intended to prevent a total humanitarian catastrophe and a regional refugee crisis.

On the ground in Caracas, the atmosphere is a mix of celebration and high tension as U.S. military assets coordinate with local transition committees to secure government buildings and oil infrastructure. President Trump has vowed to hold "free and fair" elections within the shortest possible timeframe, though he has not yet provided a specific calendar for the restoration of local civilian rule. As the world watches this bold "America First" intervention unfold, the focus shifts to whether this move will stabilize the region or ignite a broader geopolitical confrontation over the future of South American governance.

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