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Donald J. Trump, President of... Venezuela?

Trump touts himself 'Acting President of Venezuela' amid Iran, ICE crises. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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On Politics

Mon Jan 12 2026

 

Kathryn Palmer Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers and happy Monday. Kathryn Palmer here. It was a jam-packed weekend full of political news, both at home and on the foreign policy front. Here's what to know as we head into the week.

Donald J. Trump, President of... Venezuela?

Not long after jokingly endorsing his secretary of State to serve as president of Cuba, Trump is again stoking controversy after touting himself as the leader of Venezuela. The president yesterday shared a doctored Wikipedia page calling himself the "Acting President of Venezuela" in a social media post, less than 10 days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump said shortly after the operation that he was placing Venezuela under temporary American control, and has suggested the U.S. could remain involved in the nation's affairs, including administering its oil industry, for years. Delcy Rodríguez, the country's former vice president and oil minister under Maduro, was sworn in as Venezuela's interim president earlier this month.

Usa Trump Venezuela

A 3D printed miniature of U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan flag are seen in this illustration taken January 9, 2026.

Dado Ruvic, REUTERS

A politics roundup:

Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve was hit with DOJ subpoenas, indictment threat
Iran says its open to U.S. talks but also prepared for war, as Trump threatens nation's leaders over crackdown
The man who carried Rep. Nancy Pelosi's lectern during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot is running for office
Supreme Court won't reopen Boy Scouts settlement plan, keeping thousands of sex abuse claims in place

More federal agents headed to Minnesota

Hundreds more federal agents are being sent to Minnesota , Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, as furor grows over the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Jan. 7. The deployments come amid nationwide protests over the killing of Renee Nicole Good and more than a month after federal authorities began sending agents to Minnesota as part of an operation targeting undocumented immigrants and fraud in the state's social services programs. Noem, in several interviews yesterday, defended the ICE agent and accused Good of "domestic terrorism." Video analysis  by USA TODAY shows Good's vehicle appeared to be turning away from the officer who fired on her.

Trump says he's weighing military options in Iran

Trump said yesterday he's considering military options in Iran, as he continues to threaten intervention as the Iranian regime cracks down violently on mass demonstrations. Protests in Iran, which have entered their third week after the national currency collapsed, have killed hundreds of people, reaching a zenith over the weekend. "The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination," Trump told reporters. He also said he plans to speak with Elon Musk about helping to restore internet connectivity in Iran as authorities disrupt services during the protests.

Thanks for reading! Stick around for more stories below. Reach out at at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a news conference following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

Minnesota charges against an ICE agent who shot and killed an SUV driver are possible, but securing a trial and conviction would be more challenging.

Burning debris lies in the middle of a street during unrest in Hamedan, Iran on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years.
 

What to know about Iran protests as Trump warns the country

Violent crackdowns on anti-government protesters in Iran are drawing attention from Trump and condemnation from international human rights groups.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announces in St. Paul on Jan. 5, 2026, that he's ending his reelection bid amid mounting pressure over a fraud scandal that has engulfed his administration in recent weeks. Walz was the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president.
 

Trump's feud with Walz reaches new heights after ICE shooting

The Trump administration is fighting with Minnesota officials over Renee Good's killing after months of attacks from the president.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at press conference to discuss ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, at One World Trade Center in New York City, U.S., January 8, 2026.
 

Kristi Noem pressed on response to ICE shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her allegations that Renee Nicole Good was a 'domestic terrorist' hours after she was fatally shot.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media aboard Air Force One en route from Florida to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 11, 2026.
 

Trump calls for 10% cap on credit card interest rates

President Donald Trump has said there will be a one-year cap on credit card interest rates set at 10%. What is the average? Can he even do that?

 

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