Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores say they remain “steadfast” and “serene” as they face trial in the United States, in their first social media message since being detained earlier this year.
The message, posted on Maduro’s X account on Saturday, comes nearly three months after the couple were captured by American forces in a nighttime raid in Caracas and taken to the United States. Donald Trump’s administration ordered the operation as part of a broader campaign against the Venezuelan government.
Maduro and Flores have since been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn, a federal jail in New York where they await court proceedings.
“We are well, steadfast, serene and in constant prayer,” the pair said in the statement.
“We have received your communications, your messages, your emails, your letters and your prayers. Every word of love, every gesture of affection, every expression of support fills our souls and strengthens us spiritually.”
It remains unclear who posted the message on Maduro’s behalf, as the couple reportedly have no direct access to the internet or newspapers in detention.
A source close to the Venezuelan government told AFP that Maduro spends much of his time reading the Bible in prison. According to the source, some fellow inmates refer to him as “president,” despite his removal from power earlier this year.
The source also said the former leader is allowed limited communication, speaking to family members and lawyers by phone for up to 15 minutes per call.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, known as “Nicolasito,” has previously said his father is doing well, remaining calm and exercising while in custody.
The former president had not spoken publicly since his arraignment in New York on January 5, when he pleaded not guilty to several charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons-related offenses.
During a one-hour hearing on Thursday, a US judge rejected a defense motion related to the couple’s ability to pay legal fees without assistance from the Venezuelan government. Neither Maduro nor Flores spoke during the hearing.
The January military operation effectively ended Maduro’s presidency, which began in 2013. Since his removal, Venezuela’s former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has assumed leadership of the country.
Rodríguez has begun introducing reforms, including an amnesty law freeing political prisoners jailed during Maduro’s tenure and changes to oil and mining policies that align with US demands for access to Venezuela’s natural resources.
In another sign of shifting relations, the US State Department recently announced plans to restore diplomatic ties with Venezuela.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Maduro’s latest message suggests he and his wife are seeking to project resilience as their case unfolds in a US court.
