Washington DC

US President Donald J. Trump on Monday triggered widespread speculation online after posting a cryptic image on his social media platform Truth Social, showing his own photograph with the caption “acting president of Venezuela”, without any accompanying explanation or text.

The unexplained post immediately sparked debate across political and social media circles, with supporters and critics offering sharply differing interpretations of its intent.

Earlier in the day, Trump addressed reporters aboard Air Force One, stating that Washington’s engagement with Venezuela was progressing positively.

“Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along very well with their leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” Trump said.

He also confirmed speaking with Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez, revealing discussions around a large oil transaction.

“She’s been very good. She asked if we could take 50 million barrels of oil. I said yes. It’s worth about USD 4.2 billion, and it’s already on its way to the United States,” Trump said.

The developments follow an Executive Order signed by Trump on Friday declaring a national emergency to safeguard Venezuelan oil revenues held in US Treasury accounts from legal claims or judicial seizure. The White House said the order is intended to advance US foreign policy and national security interests.

Under the directive, Venezuelan oil and diluent revenues deposited in US Treasury accounts—classified as Foreign Government Deposit Funds—are frozen unless explicitly authorised. The order blocks any legal attachment, liens, garnishments, or transfers and supersedes previous regulations governing such funds.

The order states that the revenues remain the sovereign property of Venezuela and cannot be claimed by private entities.

Earlier, Trump met senior oil and gas executives at the White House, promoting potential investments in Venezuela’s energy sector and asserting that “a lot of money is going to be made.”

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Meanwhile, Delcy Rodriguez criticised US actions leading to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, calling it a “historic stain” on bilateral relations. In a televised address on state broadcaster VTV, she said Venezuela would continue condemning what she termed “criminal aggression,” referring to Maduro’s detention in New York.