At a Glance
- Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores early Saturday.
- The claim triggered a flood of misinformation, including AI-generated images and old footage.
- U.S. authorities filed indictments against Maduro and Flores on serious drug-related and weapons charges.
Why it matters: The spread of false claims about a high-profile arrest shows how quickly misinformation can dominate social media narratives.
In the early hours of Saturday, former President Donald Trump posted that U.S. forces had seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, sparking a wave of misinformation across social platforms.
Disinformation Surge
Within minutes of the announcement, users shared old videos and AI-generated images claiming to show the arrest. The most widely circulated image, purported to depict DEA agents flanking Maduro, was later identified by News Of Austin as likely fabricated using Google’s SynthID technology.
Donald Trump wrote:
> “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.”
Pam Bondi wrote on X:
> “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Laura Loomer posted:
> “Following the capture of Maduro by US Special Forces earlier this morning, the people of Venezuela are ripping down posters of Maduro and taking to the streets to celebrate his arrest by the Trump administration.”
Google Gemini and X’s Grok confirmed the image was AI-generated, while ChatGPT denied that Maduro had been captured.
Legal Response
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on the following charges:
| Charge |
|---|
| Narco-terrorism conspiracy |
| Cocaine importation conspiracy |
| Possession of machine guns and destructive devices |
| Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices |
Viral Content Examples
Pro-Trump influencer Laura Loomer shared footage of a Maduro poster being taken down, claiming it was from Caracas that day. The clip was actually filmed in 2024 and was later removed. An account named Defense Intelligence posted a video claiming a U.S. assault on Caracas; the footage originally appeared on TikTok in November 2025 and remains on X.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s claim triggered a rapid misinformation cascade across major platforms.
- AI tools like SynthID and Google Gemini can flag fabricated images, but false content still spreads widely.
- U.S. authorities have filed serious indictments against Maduro and Flores amid the controversy.
The incident underscores how quickly fabricated material can spread and the importance of verifying sources before sharing.
