Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in US Court

January 5, 2026

This screengrab taken from the X account of Rapid Response 47, the official White House rapid response account, shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) escorted by DEA agents inside the headquarters of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in lower Manhattan, New York, on January 3, 2026. President Donald Trump said on January 3 that the United States will "run" Venezuela and tap its huge oil reserves after seizing leftist leader Nicolas Maduro during a bombing raid on Caracas. Trump's announcement came hours after a pre-dawn lightning attack in which special forces grabbed Maduro and his wife -- while air strikes pounded sites in and around the capital city -- then whisked him out of the country. (Photo by X account of Rapid Response 47 / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / X ACCOUNT OF RAPID RESPONSE 47" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to U.S. charges of narco-terrorism during a court appearance in New York, days after he was detained by U.S. forces in Caracas.

Maduro, 63, told a federal judge in Manhattan that he had been “kidnapped” from Venezuela and said, “I’m innocent; I’m not guilty,” according to the reports.

“I’m still the president of my country,” he was quoted as saying.

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not-guilty plea.

Recall that the two were taken prisoner by US commandos early on Saturday morning in an assault backed by a sizable naval presence and aircraft.

President Donald Trump made several announcements over the weekend, claiming that the US is now in charge of Venezuela to reconstruct and manage its massive but deteriorating oil industry.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated at an emergency UN Security Council meeting that there should be “respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity” amid widespread concern.

Meanwhile, there was severe criticism Monday from Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum said the Americas “do not belong” to anyone.

Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, stated in a press conference that he was prepared to “take up arms” against Trump as a former guerrilla fighter.