❗️Trump declares himself ‘acting president of Venezuela’ after kidnapping of President Maduro – The Cradle

 ❗️Trump declares himself ‘acting president of Venezuela’ after kidnapping of President Maduro

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on 12 January calling himself the “Acting President of Venezuela,” following a deadly US military operation in Caracas on 3 January that resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro was taken into US custody and is now facing charges in New York, while Trump has claimed full control over the country’s oil industry and other key operations.

Trump has said his administration will “run” Venezuela in the interim, pressing American oil companies to resume operations and purchase Venezuelan crude despite legal obstacles. Meanwhile, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president by Venezuela’s top court, and her government has been in talks with US officials about reopening the embassy in Caracas.

Supporters of Maduro have continued daily protests in Caracas, demanding the release of their leader and his wife. The situation has sparked a tense standoff, with Trump portraying himself as the country’s de facto leader while the interim Venezuelan government maintains official authority on the ground.

READ FULL ARTICLE: This article originally appeared on The Cradle

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