Trump on Truth Social proclaims himself interim president of Venezuela and criticises Exxon
After expressing doubts about Exxon, Trump announces his role as Venezuelan leader, Machado meets the Pope to discuss the crisis in the South American country.
"I'm leaning towards leaving Exxon out" of Venezuela's oil wells, Donald Trump declared after the company's CEO, Darren Woods, expressed doubts about the actual possibility of entering the country during the meeting with the industry's top brass at the White House on Friday.
Venezuela is currently, without significant changes in the economic, legal and sectoral framework, "uninvestigable", Woods had said, emphasising his hope that the Trump administration could introduce the necessary reforms together with the Venezuelan government. "I didn't like their response. They are being too cute," Trump commented in the night.
Exxon's assets had been nationalised in Venezuela, for the second time, in 2007. The company had sued Caracas for USD 12 billion but had only managed to recover a fraction of what was demanded. Within two weeks, Exxon, already involved in a major project in Guyana, will send a technical 'team' to Caracas to assess the current state of the oil assets.
Trump proclaims himself 'interim president of Venezuela'
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, on his social platform Truth Social, self-proclaimed himself interim leader of Venezuela from January 2026. In fact, Trump published on Sunday a photo of himself in which, among his duties, appears that of "acting president of Venezuela", a few days after the US military operation that led to the capture of the country's president, Nicolas Maduro.
Machado: 'Asked the Pope to intercede for prisoners and the disappeared'
Meanwhile, Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado met with Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican Secretary of State, Piero Parolin. "I had the blessing and honour of being able to meet His Holiness and express our gratitude to him for his continued support for what is happening in our country. I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people, who remain steadfast and in prayer for the freedom of Venezuela, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who continue to be kidnapped and disappeared," the activist said.
