Washington, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump has sparked widespread international controversy after declaring himself the “Acting President of Venezuela” in a post shared on his Truth Social platform, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from global leaders and international organisations.
The declaration comes days after President Trump signed an Executive Order proclaiming a national emergency aimed at protecting Venezuelan oil revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts from legal attachment or judicial seizure. The White House said the measure is intended to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives and safeguard national security interests.
According to a statement issued by the White House, the Executive Order blocks any attachment, judgment, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial processes against Venezuelan oil revenues and proceeds from diluent sales deposited in U.S. Treasury accounts. The funds, classified as “Foreign Government Deposit Funds,” are to remain frozen unless expressly authorised under the new directive.
The order further prohibits any transfer or transaction involving the funds and overrides previous directives that may have governed such dealings. It also clarifies that the oil revenues are the sovereign property of Venezuela, held by the United States strictly for governmental and diplomatic purposes, and cannot be claimed by private individuals or entities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy has reiterated warnings that Venezuela’s security situation remains extremely volatile. In a security alert issued on January 10, 2026, American citizens were strongly advised not to travel to Venezuela and to leave immediately if currently in the country. The advisory recalls that the United States withdrew all diplomatic personnel from Caracas in 2019 and suspended consular services due to security concerns.
Tensions escalated further following a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that reportedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife over alleged involvement in drug trafficking and terrorism. The operation sent shockwaves across the international community and intensified scrutiny of Washington’s actions in the country.
Several world leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, condemned the development, describing it as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The United Nations also criticised the move, warning that unilateral actions of such magnitude could undermine global security and destabilise international relations.
As diplomatic reactions continue to unfold, President Trump’s declaration and the accompanying economic and security measures have raised serious questions about international law, sovereignty, and the future of U.S.–Venezuela relations.
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