Maduro “standing firm” in new jail photos

August 31 2026

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has declared that he remains “standing firm” after photographs appearing to show him inside a U.S. detention facility in New York were shared on social media.

The images, posted Sunday, show Maduro wearing a gray tracksuit and making peace signs with both hands. Although the photographs were published in August, metadata visible on the images indicates they were taken on June 25, 2026.

In an accompanying message, Maduro thanked supporters and his family for their backing, saying he and his wife, Cilia Flores, remained strong and confident. He also reiterated his belief that Venezuela would eventually “rise again.”

Maduro and Flores were captured during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela in January and subsequently brought to New York to face federal criminal charges.

Maduro appeared before a U.S. judge on January 5, where he pleaded not guilty and insisted that he remained Venezuela’s legitimate president.

U.S. prosecutors accuse Maduro and other Venezuelan officials of participating in a long-running narco-terrorism and cocaine-importation conspiracy.

The U.S. Justice Department’s indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated for years and involved the trafficking of cocaine into the United States. Maduro and Flores have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

The photographs offer one of the clearest recent glimpses of Maduro since his capture and come as his criminal case continues in New York. His trial is currently expected to begin in June 2027, although significant legal proceedings are expected before then.

Maduro’s latest message underscores his continued defiance despite being removed from power and held in U.S. custody, while Venezuela moves forward under an interim government following his capture.