How Maduro’s public dancing led to his downfall as furious Trump grew tired of his ‘nonchalance’ despite warnings

According to sources, Nicolas Maduro mobilized President Trump’s team after his dance moves and recklessness were seen as a laughing stock in recent weeks.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sang and danced in the weeks leading up to his capture by US commandos along with his wife Cilia at their Caracas compound on January 3.

Insiders told New York Times He said the leftist leader’s brazen antics were an attempt to call out what he believed was the Trump administration’s bluff, which ultimately became their breaking point.

The dance, which apparently copies Trump’s famous punching moves, was seen during the opening of the International School for Women’s Leadership in December, as Maduro began transitioning into an electronic remix of his own speech ‘No War, Peace Yes’.

Maduro danced with his wife to the joyful song pleading for peace between the two countries.

The dictator has made dancing and singing his trademark and previously sang John Lennon’s classic song ‘Imagine’ in November.

‘As John Lennon said, do everything for peace, right?’ Addressing the crowd, Maduro said: ‘This is always a source of inspiration. This is an anthem for all ages and generations, which John Lennon left as his gift to humanity.’

The former president’s cold-blooded behavior continued even after his extradition; His first public speech since his capture was “Happy New Year” as he was shackled and the criminal walked away.

Sources told the New York Times that the Trump team thought Maduro was calling what he believed was a bluff.

After Maduro’s arrest, the future of Venezuela remained in flux, with the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, calling for ‘peace and dialogue, not war’.

“We prioritize moving toward balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela,” Rodriguez said.

‘President Donald Trump, our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been the message of President Nicolás Maduro, and it is now the message of all of Venezuela.’

Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Justice and Peace, still held firm to the idea that Maduro was the legal president of the country.

A defiant Cabello defended her boss in a statement issued through the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

‘Here the unity of the revolutionary force is more than guaranteed, and here there is only one president whose name is Nicolas Maduro Moros. “No one should fall for the provocations of the enemy,” he said.

Rodriguez struck a more conciliatory tone in his statement Sunday.

“We call on the U.S. government to work together on a cooperation agenda aimed at common development within the framework of international law and to strengthen the lasting coexistence of communities,” he said in his statement.

Late last night, Trump warned Colombia could be the next country to face military action and declared that the US was ‘responsible’ after ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

While traveling on Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump said Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro was a “sick man” who “liked to do cocaine” after threatening Petro to “watch out for him.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro dances during a march as part of ‘Venezuelan Student Day’ in Miraflores in Caracas, Venezuela, on November 21, 2025

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gather during a demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 4, 2026

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gather during a demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 04, 2026

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gather during a demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 4, 2026

Trump’s attacks on the Colombian leader came after Petro described Washington’s attack on Venezuela as an ‘attack on the sovereignty’ of Latin America.

‘Colombia is also very sick, it is ruled by a sick man who likes to produce cocaine and sell it to the USA, and he will not be able to do this for a very long time,’ he said.

When asked whether the US would conduct a military operation against the country, Trump bluntly replied: ‘Sounds good to me.’

Petro hit back at Trump with a fiery social media post after the US president accused him of being a drug trafficker.

“Stop slandering me, Mr. Trump,” Petro said in a lengthy post on X.

‘That’s not how you threaten a Latin American president who emerged from the armed struggle and the subsequent struggle of the Colombian people for Peace.’

In a social media post later on Sunday, Petro added: ‘Friends don’t bomb.’

While the US president speculated about the collapse of various countries in the Western Hemisphere, questions remained about who was running the show in Caracas.

“Don’t ask me who’s responsible because I’m going to give you an answer and it’s going to be very controversial,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.

A reporter responded by asking: ‘What does this mean?’

“That means we’re in control,” Trump replied.

Maduro continues to flash peace signs and give two thumbs up as he arrives in New York to stand trial on drug and weapons charges.

They landed in Manhattan by helicopter on Saturday evening, after previously stopping at airports in upstate New York and Puerto Rico.

Maduro and Flores are currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, which is notorious for its poor conditions and is also home to Luigi Mangione and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

Trump said the US would rule Venezuela indefinitely in the meantime, after ruling out the possibility of the country’s popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado taking the reins, claiming she ‘lacked the support’.

Trump gave few details about the logistics of governing Venezuela, which has a population of 30 million, but suggested the country’s vast oil reserves would provide funds for its revitalization.

Maduro’s arrest comes after US forces struck Caracas amid Trump’s accusations that Venezuela is funneling drugs and gang members to the US.

He continued to throw peace signs and give his thumbs up even after Maduro’s brazen demeanor was caught.

Trump claimed that Maduro was the leader of the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Sun) drug trafficking operation.

Trump said on Saturday that he did not inform Congress about plans to kidnap Maduro, claiming that if he had done so the news would have “leaked” and potentially helped the Venezuelan leader evade capture.

It has been suggested that Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado will be the next president of the country.

He had previously voiced support for Trump’s threats to get rid of Maduro and was hugely popular with Venezuelan voters.

Maduro’s capture caused joy among Venezuelan immigrants living outside their country on Saturday.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of cities, including Santiago in Chile, to celebrate the ouster of a leader seen as a corrupt authoritarian accused of destroying his oil-rich country’s economy while silencing dissent.

The dictator and his wife Cilia were captured by a US military unit in the early hours of Caracas. Trump said Saturday afternoon that both would face criminal charges in New York

The former Venezuelan President is pictured after being captured in a photo shared by President Trump on the TruthSocial website

In Caracas, the atmosphere seemed altogether quieter.

Locals were photographed queuing outside supermarkets out of fear that Maduro’s ouster would lead to even greater economic uncertainty.

Shortly before Saturday’s press conference, the president shared an undignified photo of Maduro in sweatpants after his capture.

He said the wife of the Venezuelan President would also be charged, but did not provide further details.

Maduro was photographed wearing a heavy black plastic eye mask and headphones over his ears in an attempt to keep his location secret from him.

He was wearing a gray tracksuit and holding a plastic water bottle in his hand. It is unclear whether this is the clothing Maduro was wearing when he was kidnapped or whether it was given to him by US forces.

Trump said the US would rule Venezuela indefinitely in the meantime, after ruling out the possibility of the country’s popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado taking the reins, claiming she ‘lacked the support’.

While CNN commentators suggested it was chosen to humiliate the corrupt leader, the photo was a far cry from his usual appearance in a sharp suit or military fatigues.

There was no sign of Cilia.

Speaking at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, Trump told reporters that the Venezuelan first lady was part of her husband’s alleged plans and that he, too, would face criminal charges in Manhattan.

“Maduro and his wife will soon face the full force of American justice,” Trump said.

It is claimed that the Maduros were afraid of being caught by US forces and started sleeping in a different place every night.