The article, published on January 12, 2026, by Global Times (a Chinese state-affiliated outlet), reports on a Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump claiming to be the “Acting President of Venezuela.” It contextualizes this amid recent U.S. military actions, an executive order on Venezuelan oil, the swearing-in of Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s acting president, and public backlash.
Overall Verdict: The core factual claims are largely accurate based on corroboration from multiple independent sources, including U.S. media, international outlets, and official government statements. No evidence of outright fake news or fabricated events was found. However, the article exhibits strong elements of propaganda and biased framing, portraying U.S. actions as aggressive, imperialistic, and unlawful while amplifying criticism to align with anti-Western narratives common in Chinese state media. This selective emphasis promotes a view of U.S. overreach without balancing perspectives from U.S. officials or allies.
Trump Posted an Image Claiming to Be ‘Acting President of Venezuela’ on Truth Social
- Article Claim: Trump shared a digitally altered image resembling a Wikipedia page, listing himself as “Acting President of Venezuela” with an “Incumbent January 2026” designation, alongside his U.S. presidential roles.
- Verification: Confirmed. Multiple outlets reported the post on January 11, 2026 (U.S. time). For example, MediaITE described it as “bizarre,” NDTV called it a “viral post,” and The Times of India noted it as a “fake image” for provocative effect. Anadolu Agency and The Hindu also verified the content, including the image’s details. X (formerly Twitter) reactions from users worldwide discussed the post, with screenshots matching the description.
- Status: True. The post exists, but it’s widely interpreted as satirical or provocative rather than a legal declaration.
No Official Venezuelan Response to the Post
- Article Claim: As of publication, no response from Venezuelan authorities.
- Verification: Plausible at the time (article published ~2 PM Beijing time on Jan 12, ~1 AM U.S. Eastern). Subsequent reports, including from Reuters and Al Jazeera, focus on Venezuela’s internal response to broader U.S. actions but don’t mention a direct rebuttal to the post. X posts show Venezuelan supporters demanding Maduro’s release but no official statements on the specific image.
- Status: Accurate as of article’s timestamp; no contradicting evidence found.
Trump’s Statements on Venezuelan Elections and Oil Rebuilding
- Article Claim: Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that elections would happen “eventually” after U.S. rebuilding of oil infrastructure.
- Verification: Confirmed. MediaITE and Yahoo reports quote Trump from the interview, emphasizing oil priorities before elections. This aligns with Trump’s broader comments post-strike, as reported by CBS News.
- Status: True.
U.S. Military Strike and Seizure of Maduro on January 3, 2026
- Article Claim: U.S. conducted a “large-scale strike” seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife; Trump claimed the U.S. would “run” Venezuela.
- Verification: Confirmed across sources. CNN, The New York Times, Wikipedia, and Brookings detail the operation as a special forces raid capturing Maduro for drug trafficking charges. PBS and Time Magazine fact-check Trump’s post-strike claims, including “running” Venezuela during transition. Al Jazeera and Reuters describe it as an “abduction,” echoing the article’s tone.
- Status: True, though legality is debated (e.g., Reuters questions if the capture was legal under international law).
Executive Order on Venezuelan Oil Revenue
- Article Claim: Trump signed an order on January 9 declaring a national emergency to safeguard Venezuelan oil funds in U.S. accounts for foreign policy objectives.
- Verification: Confirmed directly from White House archives. The order, titled “Safeguarding Venezuelan Oil Revenue,” protects funds from judicial seizure to support U.S. goals. Reuters and Politico report it as blocking creditors from accessing oil revenue.
- Status: True.
Delcy Rodríguez Sworn In as Acting President on January 5, 2026
- Article Claim: Rodríguez, former vice president, was sworn in as acting president, per Xinhua News Agency.
- Verification: Confirmed. Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Britannica report the swearing-in in Caracas amid Maduro’s absence. NHK and France 24 provide profiles and context.
- Status: True.
Netizen and Media Reactions
- Article Claim: Widespread opposition, with comments labeling it “illegal,” “colonialism,” and a historical first.
- Verification: Partially accurate but selective. X posts show criticism (e.g., from users like @_Bongz and Shanaka Anslem Perera, as quoted). However, reactions vary; some view it as satire or “trolling.” Yahoo UK notes mockery of Trump.
- Status: True, but the article cherry-picks negative views.
Analysis
- Fake News: None detected. All major events are corroborated by reputable sources across political spectra (e.g., CNN, Reuters, White House). Minor details, like the post’s exact phrasing, match reports. The article cites real sources (MediaITE, Economic Times, Xinhua), though it relies on state-affiliated Xinhua for Venezuelan internal news.
- Propaganda Elements:
- Bias Toward Anti-U.S. Narrative: Global Times, linked to the Chinese Communist Party, often critiques U.S. foreign policy. Here, it amplifies U.S. “intervention” and “seizure” without discussing U.S. justifications (e.g., Maduro’s drug charges or humanitarian concerns, as in PBS fact-checks). This aligns with Beijing’s interest in countering U.S. influence in Latin America, where China has economic ties with Venezuela.
- Selective Sourcing: Relies on critical voices (e.g., netizens calling it “colonialism”) while omitting pro-U.S. perspectives or Trump’s rationale. Phrases like “forcibly seized” evoke aggression, promoting a victimhood narrative for Venezuela.
- Amplification of Division: Highlights “heightened tensions” and potential “violent” global reactions, stoking fear of U.S. hegemony without evidence of imminent conflict.
- Framing Elements:
- Imperialism Frame: The story is structured to depict the U.S. as a colonial power “running” Venezuela for oil, using loaded terms like “bizarrely” (from MediaITE) and historical comparisons (e.g., “zero presidents have ever publicly declared executive authority”). This frames Trump as erratic and the U.S. as lawless.
- Victim vs. Aggressor: Venezuela is portrayed as passive (no response, Maduro “seized”), while U.S. actions are active and domineering. Rodríguez’s role is noted via Xinhua, subtly legitimizing the Maduro regime’s continuity.
- One-Sided Emotional Appeal: Netizen quotes evoke outrage (“illegal and unacceptable”), encouraging readers to view U.S. involvement as unethical without exploring counterarguments, such as U.S. claims of stabilizing the region (per Brookings).
This Global Times article is factually sound on events but serves as a vehicle for propaganda by framing U.S. actions through a lens of criticism and omission. It risks misleading readers by emphasizing controversy over context, potentially fueling anti-U.S. sentiment. For balanced views, consult diverse sources like Reuters for neutrality, The New York Times for U.S. perspectives, or Al Jazeera for global south angles. Always cross-reference state media with independent fact-checkers.
