Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in U.S. Court After Dramatic Arrest Ordered by Trump

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday in a Manhattan federal court after a dramatic U.S. military operation ordered by President Donald Trump led to his capture, sending shockwaves through global politics and Venezuela’s fragile power structure.

Appearing in court shackled and wearing prison attire, Maduro denied all narcotics and weapons charges, insisting he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president. His wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not-guilty plea. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled the next court hearing for March 17. Outside the courthouse, protesters both supporting and opposing Maduro gathered amid heavy security.

Hours after the court appearance, Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president in Caracas. While expressing loyalty to Maduro, Rodriguez did not signal any immediate resistance to the U.S. action. A recent U.S. intelligence assessment reportedly identified Rodriguez as the most viable figure to maintain stability, sidelining prominent opposition leaders such as Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez.

Maduro faces serious charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. U.S. prosecutors allege he oversaw a long-running cocaine trafficking network involving groups such as Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Colombia’s FARC rebels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has repeatedly denied these accusations, calling them an excuse for U.S. interference aimed at Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

President Trump defended the operation, stating the U.S. is “at war with drug traffickers, not Venezuela,” and dismissed the idea of rapid elections, arguing the country must first be stabilized. Trump also openly expressed interest in reviving Venezuela’s oil sector, fueling optimism among U.S. oil companies whose shares rose following the news.

The United Nations Security Council convened to debate the legality of the raid, which Russia, China, and several leftist governments condemned. Legal experts have raised concerns about international law violations, while Trump administration officials emphasized security and anti-narcotics priorities.

As Venezuela navigates leadership uncertainty and global scrutiny, the case against Maduro marks one of the most extraordinary U.S. interventions in Latin America in decades, with far-reaching political, legal, and economic implications.