Nicolas Maduro, ousted Venezuelan president, wishes ‘Happy New Year,’ shows peace sign in viral video clips as he walks past camera with DEA agents after landing in New York; watch here

Nicolas Maduro, ousted Venezuelan president, landed in New York on Saturday (January 3, 2026) after he was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale US operation in Venezuela. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

After Maduro, who is set to face drugs and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court, landed in New York in federal custody, his first clear images surfaced on the social media platform X. Two videos of the deposed Latin American leader emerged on X in which he apparently looked pretty relaxed, flashing a peace sign.

Maduro shows peace sign

In one of the videos that emerged on social media, also shared by RT News, Maduro was seen walking past the camera as he got off from a truck shortly after landing in New York. Noticing the camera, he showed a peace sign.

Maduro wishes “Happy New Year”

In the other clip, shared by the White House, Maduro was seen walking alongside a contingent of law enforcement. According to TMZ, DEA agents were walking him across a tarmac and into a nondescript building.

The Rapid Response account of the White House shared the video of Maduro with the caption “Perp walked.” In the 12-second clip, the ousted Venezuelan leader was seen with two DEA agents leading him down a hallway while he wished onlookers a “happy new year.”

US will seize Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, says Trump

President Donald Trump announced Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested after a large-scale military action in Venezuela. He also stated that the US will "run" Venezuela "until such time that we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition." Trump said that the US will seize Venezuela’s massive oil reserves. Maduro is now being held in MDC Brooklyn.


ALSO READ: Maduro arrives at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Trump’s ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ triggers protests across America as he says US is 'going to run' Venezuela; check key updates


Meanwhile, following Maduro’s ouster and arrest by the US, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the powers and duties of acting president.