Nicolás Maduro reappeared this Sunday in the first photographs of him known from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been incarcerated since January 3, 2026.
The images, shared through their social media along with an optimistic message, show him smiling, wearing a gray sports outfit, white sneakers, and dark sunglasses.
In the two photos shared, he is seen making the "V" for victory sign in front of a concrete block wall.
“I want you to know that we are steadfast”, Maduro asserted in the message that accompanies the photographs, released eight months after his capture in Caracas during a U.S. military operation.
Photos from June published two months late
One of the most striking details is the date printed in the bottom right corner of the images: June 25, 2026, at 6:05 PM.
The photographs were taken more than two months ago.
Sources close to Maduro quoted by the Spanish newspaper El País explained that they were made on the occasion of Father's Day week.
According to that version, the former Venezuelan leader saw them on July 13, but his associates did not receive them until this week.
The paradox is that the photos are dated one day after the devastating double earthquake that shook Venezuela on June 24 and left more than 6,000 dead.
A spiritual message without a word about the oil deal
The text accompanying the photographs was presented as a "small gift of love and hope" and is addressed to his grandchildren, children, and followers.
"I am sending these photos as a small gift to all my grandsons and granddaughters, to the boys and girls, and to all the noble people who love us," wrote Maduro.
"I want you to know that we are steadfast, with our hearts filled with your love, that love that reaches us in the form of prayer, in constant action, in solidarity, and in true support. Infinite thanks for every word, for every gesture, for every blessing," the text adds.
The closing combines religious references with a political message:
"
Cilia and I embrace you forever, with our souls invested in you and with unwavering faith in God. As the Apostle Paul says: 'But in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Rom 8:37). We will remain strong, serene, and confident: God is with us. God will provide. Venezuela will be reborn.
"Minutes before publishing the photographs this Sunday, the same account had shared an image of Maduro with his wife, Cilia Flores —who is also detained in New York— accompanied by the hashtags “#FreeMaduro” and “#FreeCilia” along with a countdown of days in detention.
A crucial political moment for Venezuela
The dissemination of the photographs occurs at a particularly significant moment for Venezuela.
On August 28, the Trump administration announced what it referred to as “the largest oil deal in world history” with the government led by Delcy Rodríguez, through which the United States gains majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan reserves, around 22% of the country's total reserves.
Rodríguez, for his part, stated that the agreement will entail investments of 100 billion dollars in Venezuela.
The pact has sparked protests from Chavista sectors in Caracas and criticism from economists who question its constitutionality.
In that context, Maduro's own son publicly thanked President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the agreement, in a turn of events that would have been unthinkable during his father's administration.
Maduro's silence on the pact contrasts with other political interventions made from prison.
At the beginning of August, when discussions began between chavismo and a sector of the opposition, their account posted a message stating: "We welcome any path of dialogue that helps consolidate peace, coexistence, and the meeting among Venezuelans."
What is Maduro's life like in prison?
Since his capture, few details have emerged about Maduro's routine at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
His son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, told El País in May that the former Venezuelan leader spent his first months in a solitary confinement cell, with a narrow bed and a desk that he used for writing and reading the Bible.
Later, he would have shared a space with other inmates, with whom he watched television.
According to his son's account, he received coffee and even complained that the prison food was too spicy.
Maduro also maintains frequent communication with Caracas. According to El País, he has 510 minutes per month to communicate with the outside world and makes daily calls, although each conversation cannot exceed 16 minutes.
Another of the rare testimonies about his life in prison came from the rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, who coincided with Maduro for several days in the penitentiary.
After leaving the prison, the musician displayed a handmade SpongeBob doll that, as he explained, had been signed by Maduro.
Religious references have also become a consistent element of his communications from prison.
Maduro, who had previously expressed devotion to the Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, has repeatedly turned to biblical references during his imprisonment, as he did again in the message broadcast this Sunday.
Trial scheduled for 2027
Maduro was captured in Caracas on January 3, 2026, during the U.S. military operation "Absolute Resolution" and was subsequently transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Since then, he has remained detained along with his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro faces charges related to narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and arms, accusations that he denies.
His last public appearance before the release of these photographs occurred on July 22, during a court hearing in New York where the trial date was set for June 1, 2027.
Now, almost eight months after his capture, the first photographs of Maduro from inside prison have emerged, showing him smiling, making the victory sign, and assuring his followers that he and Cilia Flores remain "strong, calm, and confident," as Venezuela goes through a new political phase under the government led by Delcy Rodríguez and its rapprochement with Washington.
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