Sources tell The New York Times that President Trump ordered the capture of Nicolás Maduro after being provoked by the Venezuelan leader’s onstage dancing, which Trump reportedly viewed as mocking. The incident allegedly occurred at a December ceremony in Maracay, where Maduro danced to a remix of his speech. Maduro and his wife were later brought to the U.S. and are being held in Brooklyn on multiple charges while the administration says it will manage Venezuela until a safe transition can occur.
Sources Say Trump Ordered Maduro’s Capture After Onstage Dancing Provoked Him
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Sources who spoke to The New York Times say President Donald Trump ordered the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro after being provoked by what the president perceived as mocking behavior.
Report Details
According to the Times report published Sunday, Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with Maduro’s perceived nonchalance amid rising tensions between the two countries. The decisive incident reportedly occurred in late December at the opening of the International School for Women’s Leadership in Maracay, where Maduro rose and danced to an electronic remix of his own speech, "No War, Yes Peace." Two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Trump viewed the dancing as a form of mockery, coming days after a U.S. strike on a Venezuelan dock that the administration said targeted drug-trafficking activity.
Trump reportedly didn't take to Maduro's dancing, and was pushed to show that his actions in Venezuela weren't a 'bluff.' / X
Reporters note that Maduro’s onstage dancing was not a one-off: he had been filmed dancing to the same song a month earlier, which includes lyrics repeating phrases such as "Victory" and "Peace." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the Times account.
Custody, Charges, And U.S. Statements
Sources say Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were brought to the United States and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Maduro faces multiple federal charges, including weapons offenses, narco-terrorism conspiracy, and cocaine-importation conspiracy. He reportedly greeted DEA agents with "Happy New Year" and gave a thumbs-up while awaiting transportation to the detention facility.
While Maduro is held in Brooklyn awaiting trial, Trump has announced that the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela. / Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking at a Mar-a-Lago press conference after the strikes, Trump indicated the U.S. would oversee Venezuelan affairs "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," focusing publicly on Venezuela’s oil potential rather than commenting on Maduro’s behavior.
Trump: "We’re going to have our very large United States put up companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, to go in, spend billions of dollars to fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country."
Context And Caution
The account is based on anonymous sources speaking to The New York Times and represents the newspaper’s reporting of internal deliberations. Independent confirmation of motives inside the White House is limited; readers should treat the characterization of what prompted the order as reported rather than independently verified fact. The episode underscores how personal perceptions and public gestures can factor into international tensions.
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