Maduro Confirms He Is 'Strong' and Shares Two Photos from His Prison in New York

Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced he is "strong," sharing two previously unseen photos showing him in a gym outfit from inside his prison in New York. In the posted photos, Maduro wears a gray tracksuit and gestures with his fingers in a victory sign.

He appears to have lost a significant amount of weight since being arrested by U.S. special forces along with his wife in Caracas at the beginning of the year. The photos were taken on Sunday, June 25, according to the camera's timestamp, just one day after the twin devastating earthquakes that killed more than 6,500 people and left thousands missing in Venezuela.

Alongside the photos, Maduro posted a message on the Telegram platform stating, "I send these two pictures as a simple gift to all my grandchildren, boys and girls, and to every noble person who loves us."

He continued, "I want you to know that we are strong, and our hearts overflow with love for you." He concluded, "We will remain strong, calm, and confident—God is with us, God will take care of this, and Venezuela will be reborn again," repeating the new slogan of the Venezuelan government launched after the earthquakes.

The message was published two days after his successor, interim president Delcy Rodríguez, announced a "historic" agreement with the United States to exploit oil fields in Venezuela.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are detained at a prison in Brooklyn on charges related to drug and arms trafficking, which both deny.

New York federal court announced late in July that Maduro and his wife’s trial will begin on June 1, 2027.