Former US President Donald Trump shared a video on social media claiming it showed millions of Venezuelans celebrating the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by the US military. However, a BBC fact-check has confirmed that the video is old and misleading. The footage actually comes from a protest held in July 2024 against Maduro, not from any recent event.
Trump posted the video on his platform, Truth Social, just days after announcing that the US military had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. According to Trump’s claim, the video showed Venezuelans rejoicing after the “collapse of the Maduro regime.” The post quickly gained millions of views and thousands of likes.
The video shows a large crowd of people gathered on a street lined with palm trees and tall buildings. Text over the clip claims that millions are celebrating Maduro’s arrest. The video was also widely shared by Alex Jones, a far-right influencer and the founder of the website InfoWars.
However, journalists later confirmed that the footage had nothing to do with any recent arrest. Instead, it showed people protesting against Maduro more than a year earlier.
According to Shayan Sardarizadeh, a journalist with BBC Verify, the video is around 17 months old. It was recorded in July 2024, when thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets after the country’s presidential election.
At the time, the election results were strongly disputed. Many people accused the Maduro government of manipulation and fraud. Large protests broke out in several cities as citizens demanded transparency and political change.
The protest shown in the video was part of those demonstrations. People gathered in large numbers to express anger over the election outcome and the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The BBC confirmed the date of the video by comparing buildings, road layouts, and earlier social media posts from that period.
Despite this, the video was presented online as if it showed celebrations following Maduro’s capture. Fact-checkers said the claim was false and misleading, as there is no connection between the footage and the recent political developments described by Trump.
BBC Verify stated clearly that the video does not show people celebrating any arrest. Instead, it documents public anger and unrest from mid-2024, when opposition supporters protested against Maduro’s continued rule.
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Trump claimed that US Army Delta Force carried out an operation in Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife. According to his statement, the couple was then flown to New York City to face trial on narco-terrorism charges.
Trump has long accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking and claimed that Venezuela plays a major role in smuggling illegal drugs into the United States. Maduro has repeatedly denied these accusations.
Trump’s statements also described an aggressive US campaign against the Venezuelan government. In recent months, the US military has reportedly targeted several suspected drug vessels near Venezuela. A large naval fleet has also been positioned off the country’s coast, said to be the biggest US military presence in the region in decades.
In addition, Trump’s administration reportedly approved intelligence operations inside Venezuela and allowed the seizure of oil tankers leaving the country. These moves were described as part of a broader strategy to pressure Maduro’s government.
Maduro, however, has strongly criticised the US actions. He accused Washington of trying to start a “new eternal war” and attempting to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. He has said the US is using false claims and military force to justify interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
According to Trump’s claims, Maduro made his first court appearance in New York City on Monday. However, independent verification of these details remains limited, and international observers have urged caution when assessing such statements.
The misleading video has added to confusion around the situation. Media experts warned that sharing old or unrelated footage during sensitive political events can increase misinformation and create false public perceptions.
Fact-checkers stressed the importance of verifying videos before sharing them online, especially when they relate to international conflicts or military actions. Recycled footage is often used to support false narratives, they said.
The incident highlights how social media can be used to spread misleading information quickly, even when claims are later proven false. Experts said users should rely on trusted news sources and verified reports rather than viral posts.
While political tensions between the US and Venezuela remain high, the BBC verification shows clearly that the video shared by Trump does not show celebrations after Maduro’s capture. Instead, it reflects public protests from July 2024, during a period of political unrest in Venezuela.
As developments continue, journalists and fact-checking organisations say they will keep monitoring claims made online to prevent the spread of misinformation during critical global events.
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