News · 5 January 2026
Maduro claims presidency from US jail
Cumbre Panamá (youtube) via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro declared himself still president while pleading not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a US courtroom. Following his dramatic arrest during a US military operation, Maduro stated he was innocent and remained Venezuela's legitimate leader despite being flown to New York. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president but maintained loyalty to Maduro, declaring there is only one president. Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, widely recognized as the winner of the disputed 2024 election, has also claimed the presidency.
Reported by Al Jazeera · How we write briefs