Global attention is now turning to the day after the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. With Maduro appearing before US judges in New York to repeat that “I am (still) president” and to declare himself (naturally) innocent, US President Donald Trump appears to be holding open the bag of Aeolus in his hands.

In Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed duties as the country’s interim president, speaks of “cooperation” with the US, thus leaving the door open to normalization of the situation. At the same time, however, opposition leader María Corina Machado says Rodríguez “is not trustworthy,” announces that she is returning to Venezuela “as soon as possible,” and stresses that the next transition for the country must move forward. Hinting that even a violent overthrow of Rodríguez by the opposition—which is said to have won the previous elections—may be imminent, she also played a role in the panic caused by a false alarm, mainly in Caracas.

At the same time, as Donald Trump hurls threats left and right, everyone is waiting for the… next in line. Trump said the US “needs Greenland,” triggering an outburst from Denmark, whose prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, warned that if the American president’s insane plan were carried out, it would signal the end of NATO.

At the same time, Trump has rung the bell for just about anyone one can imagine. Against Rodríguez, about whom he said that “if she doesn’t do the right thing, she will pay a very heavy price, heavier than Maduro,” against Colombia, against Mexico, and more. This also whetted the appetite of the Israelis, who are asking Trump for the “OK” to carry out operations against Iran—whose government Trump also threatened in the event that the blood of protesters is shed, protesters who have almost “taken over” Tehran and other cities.

In court

Meanwhile, Maduro appeared yesterday for the first time in federal court in New York, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, are accused of participating in an alleged cocaine trafficking conspiracy and collaborating with cartels designated as terrorist organizations. He pleaded not guilty. Maduro and his wife face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and illegal possession of weapons.

The charges against them state that for more than 25 years they enriched themselves by collaborating with international drug traffickers to transport illegal drugs to the United States. Speaking in Spanish, Maduro called himself the president of Venezuela and complained that he was arrested at his home in Caracas, before being interrupted by the judge.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the former Venezuelan leader will soon face the full wrath of American justice. The most tense moment came at the end of the arraignment, when a member of the public began shouting in Spanish at Maduro that he would “pay” for what he had done.

Maduro turned toward him and replied in Spanish that he was an “abducted president” and a “prisoner of war,” before being escorted in handcuffs behind his wife through the rear door of the courthouse. The member of the public, who was crying, was asked to leave the courtroom.

Donald Trump said Maduro would “go through a tough trial.” However, it may take years for the prosecution to be completed. How likely is it, though, that US federal prosecutors will manage to convict the man who has led Venezuela for 13 years?

“I am a prisoner of war”

“Innocent, completely innocent,” Flores said in Spanish when asked by the judge how she pleads to the charges. “I am the president of Venezuela, I was arrested at my home in Caracas, Venezuela, together with my wife, and I will comment on the charges once I read them thoroughly—carefully—on my own,” Maduro said in court when asked to state his identity.

Indeed, as Maduro told the judge, he considers himself a “prisoner of war.”

It is characteristic that when the judge informed him that he has the right to a free attorney provided by the State of New York, the former president of Venezuela replied that he was not aware of this possibility.

At the same time, Judge Hellerstein informed the defendant couple that they have the right to receive visits from officials of their country’s consulate, which both accepted.

Part of the proceedings was also the disclosure by the prosecution of the time and place of the arrest of Maduro and Flores, at which point it became officially known that they were arrested by law enforcement authorities at 11:30 a.m. on January 3.

He surprised the judge

In fact, Maduro reportedly surprised the judge when he asked to keep his notes. “I would like to ask that my notes be respected and that I be allowed to keep them,” he said, with Hellerstein responding: “I believe you are entitled to keep them.”

It is also characteristic that Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, stated that “at this stage he is not requesting release on bail,” while leaving open the possibility of doing so at a later stage. At the same time, before the conclusion of the proceedings, he emphasized that Maduro has health issues and that specific medical care will be required during his detention, while also raising the issue of the legality of the operation to arrest the former president of Venezuela.

Specifically, he noted that he may file motions regarding Maduro’s role as the head of a sovereign state, adding that “there are issues regarding the legality of his military abduction.”

Moreover, Cilia Flores’ attorney stated that she has “bruises on her ribs” and “will need appropriate care,” with Judge Hellerstein noting that the lawyers can arrange this with prosecutors.

Outside the courthouse, many Venezuelan nationals living in New York were gathered, chanting slogans both in favor of and against Nicolás Maduro.

NOW: “Thank you President Trump!” shouts a man as confrontations continue between dueling protests outside NYC Court, where Venezuela’s Maduro is being processed. pic.twitter.com/0cLsnr2RBy

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) January 5, 2026

“Thank you, President Trump! I don’t know how to thank you,” said Carmen, 50, a Venezuelan immigrant, in Spanish with tears in her eyes, while others waved Venezuelan flags and held placards with the slogans “Free President Maduro” and “No war for Venezuela’s oil.”

“I am an abducted president”

As he was leaving the courtroom, the former president of Venezuela responded to a Spanish-speaking protester who told him that, in the name of the people of Venezuela, he would pay, saying in Spanish: “I am an abducted president. I am a prisoner of war.”

Subsequently, the Venezuelan presidential couple entered a motorcade vehicle to return to the Brooklyn detention center.

Asked to comment on Maduro’s statements that he was abducted, his attorney told NBC News: “I think what President Maduro said in court speaks for itself.”