“Maduro is a Very Violent Guy” — Trump Leaks What He Has Been Doing in Custody

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro with startling candour, describing him as “a violent guy” and mocking his public antics in remarks that followed Maduro’s capture and detention by U.S. authorities.

Speaking to Republican lawmakers at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Trump combined humour with harsh denunciation as he sought to justify the controversial military and law enforcement operation that brought Maduro into U.S. custody.

Trump’s comments included an unexpected jab at Maduro’s mannerisms, claiming the Venezuelan leader had attempted to imitate his signature dance moves during public appearances.

“He gets up there, and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit,” Trump told his audience, before emphasising that Maduro was, above all, a brutal political figure responsible for widespread violence in Venezuela.

Behind the quip, Trump’s remarks reflect a broader narrative the U.S. administration has constructed about Maduro’s character since the decision to capture him.

Trump characterised Maduro as responsible for “killing millions of people,” and went as far as alleging that a torture facility in Caracas was being dismantled in the wake of the operation.

These claims, made without presenting detailed evidence during the speech, underscore Trump’s effort to shape public perception of Maduro as a dangerous authoritarian.

Maduro’s capture in early January was the result of a highly unusual intervention, involving a multi-faceted U.S. military and law enforcement effort in Caracas that has been widely reported in U.S. and international media

Following his arrest, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transferred to New York where they have been arraigned on federal charges, including narcoterrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.

Maduro has pleaded not guilty and described his detention as illegal, asserting that he remains Venezuela’s rightful president.

The episode has stirred considerable controversy globally, with Venezuelan officials condemning the U.S. operation as a violation of sovereignty and critics warning of broader geopolitical ramifications.

Trump also intertwined lighter elements—such as anecdotes about his own dancing and his wife’s disapproval—with serious geopolitical commentary, illustrating his broader media-savvy approach to high-stakes foreign policy announcements.