NEW YORK / CARACAS – Following the dramatic U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump amplified a video on Truth Social claiming to show “millions” of jubilant citizens celebrating in the streets of Caracas. However, a digital forensic investigation has revealed that the footage is over a year old and depicts an anti-government protest rather than a victory celebration.
The video, which garnered millions of views and was also shared by far-right influencer Alex Jones, shows vast crowds gathered among palm trees and high-rise buildings.
The Reality: Protest, Not Celebration
BBC Verify and journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh tracked the origin of the footage to July 2024.
- The Context: The original video was recorded during the massive civil unrest that followed Venezuela’s disputed presidential election in July 2024.
- The Original Intent: The demonstrators were protesting against the National Electoral Council’s declaration of a Maduro victory, which international observers and the U.S. government at the time described as fraudulent.
- Present Day: While Venezuelan expatriate communities in cities like New York and Miami held genuine celebrations following Saturday’s raid, reporters on the ground in Caracas describe a “tense calm” and “muted” reactions rather than the mass gatherings suggested by the Trump post.
Context: The Capture of “Operation Absolute Resolve”
The video was shared just 48 hours after U.S. Army Delta Force units conducted a lightning-fast raid on Maduro’s Caracas residence, an operation the White House dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
| Event | Details |
| The Capture | Maduro and wife Cilia Flores seized in Caracas; 40+ reported dead in the raid. |
| The Arraignment | Maduro appeared in a Manhattan court on Monday; pleaded not guilty. |
| Trump Doctrine | Trump invoked the Monroe Doctrine, stating the U.S. would “run” Venezuela and its oil. |
| Global Reaction | China and Russia condemned the “imperialist attack”; Colombia’s Petro called Trump a “coward.” |
A Storm of “AI and Out-of-Context” Media
Fact-checking organizations like NewsGuard and PolitiFact have warned that the Maduro capture has triggered a massive wave of misinformation.
- AI Fabrications: Images of Maduro being led off a plane by DEA agents (which went viral over the weekend) were found to be AI-generated.
- Misleading Clips: Footage of a U.S. helicopter landing at Fort Bragg was falsely labeled as part of the Caracas raid.
“Many of these visuals fill gaps in real-time reporting, making it difficult for the public to discern fact from fiction in a fast-moving geopolitical crisis.”