Maduro breaks silence from Brooklyn cell: “steadfast and serene”

• The abducted Venezuelan leader issues first message since January capture by U.S. forces.

The abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have released their first public communication since being abducted by U.S. special forces nearly three months ago.

In a message shared on social media on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the couple described themselves as "steadfast" and "serene" while awaiting trial in a federal detention facility.

The post, appearing on Maduro’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, marks the first time the public has heard directly from the former leader since his arraignment in early January.

"We are well, steadfast, serene and in constant prayer," the message read. "Every word of love, every gesture of affection, every expression of support fills our souls and strengthens us spiritually."

Detention in Brooklyn

Since their arrival in the United States, Maduro and Flores have been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Sources close to the detention center report that Maduro is being held under Special Administrative Measures (SAMs), a "jail within a jail" designed for high-profile detainees.

Under these restrictions, the 63-year-old abducted leader is reportedly:

• Isolated from other inmates with 24-hour surveillance.
• Limited to 15-minute phone calls with family and legal counsel.
• Denied direct access to the internet or newspapers.
• Spends his time reading the Bible and exercising.

Despite his status as a federal prisoner, reports indicate that some fellow detainees still refer to him as "President."

The "Absolute Resolve" Legal Battle

The message comes on the heels of a tense one-hour court hearing last Thursday, where a federal judge declined a defense motion to dismiss the charges. Maduro, who has declared himself a "prisoner of war," faces four counts including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation.

The legal proceedings have been complicated by U.S. sanctions. Maduro’s lead attorney, Barry Pollack, argued in court that the U.S. government is violating his client’s constitutional rights by blocking the Venezuelan government from paying his legal fees.

Background: Operation Absolute Resolve

Nicolás Maduro was abducted and removed from power on January 3, 2026, during a dramatic nighttime raid by U.S. commandos in Caracas, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve.

The operation effectively ended Maduro’s 13-year rule, which had been marked by intense international dispute over the 2024 election results.

While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president in Caracas shortly after the raid, the political landscape in Venezuela remains in flux as the international community watches the unfolding trial in New York.