Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have issued their first public message since being taken into U.S. custody nearly three months ago, saying they remain calm, resolute, and spiritually strengthened despite their detention in a federal prison in Brooklyn.
The message, shared on Maduro’s X account on Saturday, marks the couple’s first known social media communication since their dramatic arrest by U.S. forces during a nighttime operation in Caracas in January. It remains unclear who posted the statement on their behalf, as both are reportedly being held under highly restricted conditions without internet access or newspapers.
“We are well, steadfast, serene and in constant prayer,” the message read. “We have received your communications, your messages, your emails, your letters and your prayers. Every word of love, every gesture of affection, every expression of support fills our souls and strengthens us spiritually.”
Maduro and Flores are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison that has housed several high-profile detainees and has frequently faced criticism over detention conditions.
Reports indicate that Maduro is allowed only limited phone contact with family members and legal representatives, with calls restricted to brief periods.
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that the former Venezuelan leader spends much of his time reading the Bible and has reportedly been referred to as “president” by some fellow detainees. His son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, popularly known as “Nicolasito,” has publicly said his father remains calm and physically active while in custody.
Maduro, who has described himself as a “prisoner of war,” had not made any public statement since his arraignment in New York City on January 5, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offences.
During a court hearing this week, a U.S. judge declined to dismiss arguments raised by his legal team concerning restrictions on the use of Venezuelan state funds to cover his legal expenses.
Neither Maduro nor Flores addressed the court during the proceedings, although the hearing underscored continuing legal and diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the case.
The January operation that removed Maduro from power ended more than a decade of his leadership in Venezuela, where he had governed since 2013.
Since then, Delcy Rodríguez, formerly vice president, has assumed leadership and begun implementing significant reforms, including a broad amnesty for political prisoners and adjustments to oil and mining regulations aimed at easing tensions with the United States.
Earlier this month, the United States Department of State confirmed the restoration of diplomatic ties with Venezuela, signalling a possible thaw in relations after years of hostility.
In their message, Maduro and Flores also thanked supporters at home and abroad, saying they were deeply moved by continued solidarity during what they described as a difficult chapter.
“We feel a deep admiration for our people’s ability to remain united in difficult times, to express love, awareness, and solidarity, within Venezuela and beyond our borders,” the statement added.
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