Washington, January 12, 2026 – In a new twist to an already tense geopolitical situation in Latin America, U.S. President Donald Trump published a message on Monday that quickly went viral on social media and sparked international reactions. In the post, he ironically declared himself “interim president of Venezuela” through an image shared on his platform, Truth Social, designed to mimic a layout similar to that of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. The post, widely interpreted by analysts and users as satirical, carries no institutional recognition but has fueled intense debate over the political and communicational implications of the president’s actions.

The image shared by Trump features his official portrait accompanied by the phrase “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026,” displayed beneath his title as President of the United States. Posted without additional commentary, the image triggered confusion and criticism across multiple platforms due to its provocative tone, particularly amid an already complex context following the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela earlier this month and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The post coincides with the renewed circulation on social media of a viral, AI-generated satirical video, particularly on Instagram, in which a voice impersonating Trump says in Spanish: “Hola amigos, yo soy el nuevo presidento, el señor Donaldo J. Trumpo,” before continuing in English with a mock statement: “Your ex presidente, el señor Maduro, is no longer your presidento… We are going to make Venezuela grande again, bigger and better than ever before.”

The monologue includes deliberately humorous segments, such as a promise to host a large Mexican-style party with “all the tacos you want, mucha mariachi, sexy mamacistas and delicious margaritos,” and even portraying himself as the event’s DJ. The video closes with a reworked version of Trump’s slogan: “And let’s make Venezuela grande again.”

Disinformation experts have stressed that the video is a satirical production created using artificial intelligence tools, designed to parody Trump’s communication style, and does not represent an official statement or position of the U.S. government.

At the same time, Trump escalated his rhetoric toward Cuba, warning on Truth Social that no more Venezuelan oil or money would reach the island unless Havana “reaches an agreement with Washington before it is too late.” The U.S. president justified his warning by pointing to Cuba’s long-standing dependence on Venezuelan energy supplies, which he claims will now be cut off following recent developments in Caracas.

Trump’s message included a direct warning written in capital letters: “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY FOR CUBA – ZERO!” He has explicitly linked regional policy to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, where a military operation on January 3 resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States to face federal charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.

The response from Havana was swift. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel rejected the threats, defended national sovereignty, and emphasized that Cuba retains the right to import fuel “without interference,” reaffirming that no foreign power dictates the country’s economic or energy decisions.

This episode adds to the broader international debate over the consequences of U.S. actions in Latin America, which now extend beyond geopolitical and military decisions to include satirical and provocative messaging by a sitting president on social media, signaling a new and controversial form of political communication with global impact.