NICOLAS Maduro’s cringe-inducing dance moves in the face of Donald Trump’s threats may have triggered his stunning capture by US special forces.
The seized Venezuelan tyrant is believed to have enraged Trump by seemingly mocking his constant warnings over the last few weeks, sources claim.
In the days before US commandos stormed his fortified compound and airlifted him out of his own backyard, Maduro was seen singing and dancing in public.
But Washington sources told The New York Times that these brazen acts of carelessness may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back – seemingly tipping Trump over the edge and sparking the operation.
The Venezuelan pariah’s antics may have even been an attempt to call the US president’s bluff, insiders say.
During the opening of the International School for Women’s Leadership in December, Maduro danced to a remix of his own speech: “No War, Yes Peace.”
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Boogieing alongside his wife Cilia Flores, the despot pleaded for peace between Washington and Caracas.
And in November, baffling footage showed Maduro belting out John Lenon’s classic hit “Imagine” in a desperate peace bid to Trump.
The autocrat’s cringey rendition came amid spiralling fears of all-out war between the US and Venezuela.
He was even seen throwing peace signs alongside loyal fans during the display as he said: “Do everything for peace, as John Lennon used to say, right?”
Maduro’s moves – appearing to poke fun at Trump’s words – may have provoked the US president and ultimately led him to launch the sophisticated mission.
But the boastful autocrat has since kept up his playful act – and was even heard during his first sighting following his arrest saying: “Happy New Year.”
Maduro also pleaded not guilty to his narco-terror charges in a New York court on Monday, before raging that he was still the rightful Venezuelan president and a “prisoner of war”.
The detained tyrant said in a dramatic rebuke to his sensational capture by US forces: “I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country.”
Maduro and his wife have been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
It comes as the United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the US operation in Venezuela.
During the meeting, Secretary General António Guterres said he’s “concerned rules of international law have not been respected”.
But US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said: “President Trump gave diplomacy a chance.”
In Venezuela, Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, referred to his father as “President Maduro” and called for his release.
Speaking in front of the Venezuelan national assembly, he vowed the ousted president would return.
Maduro was represented by Barry Pollack, an experienced US trial attorney who brokered a plea deal for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange last summer.
He faced veteran district judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, who has issued rulings on previous high-profile cases including compensation claims over the 9/11 attacks.
The fallen dictator, who has denied all wrongdoing, could face the death penalty if convicted.
Under federal lawa defendant found guilty of violating the Controlled Substances Act “as part of a continuing criminal enterprise” can be eligible for the punishment, according to the Library of Congress.
Maduro and his wife were snatched from Caracas by the US military’s elite special mission unit, Delta Force, in a surprise weekend operation.
Multiple explosions ripped through the capital and other sites after the US launched overnight strikes using Black Hawk helicopters and Chinooks.
The dictator and his partner were indicted on several charges in New YorkUS Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed.
Bondi said: “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.
“On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People.
“And a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco-traffickers.”
US prosecutors allege Maduro used his position over more than two decades to facilitate the flow of cocaine into the United States.
The accusations were first filed during Trump’s first term and updated following his capture.
The updated indictment added new details and co-defendants, including Maduro’s wife.
The first lady is accused of ordering kidnappings and murders, as well as accepting bribes.
Ahead of Maduro’s court appearance, Trump ramped up his rhetoric on Sunday.
The US president warned Venezuela’s new interim president Delcy Rodríguez that she could meet an even harsher fate if she fails to cooperate with Washington.
Trump told The Atlantic in a phone interview: “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”
Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president and is backed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military, has been confirmed as interim president and is expected to be sworn in shortly.
This comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed Trump’s explosive threat to annex Greenland, insisting he “stands” with Denmark.
In the same interview with The Atlantic, Trump fuelled fresh concerns about US expansionism, saying Washington “needs” Greenland and declining to rule out the use of force to secure the territory.