These Four Photos of Maduro in Court Are Digitally Created
Emerging story
Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his court appearance in the U.S., social media users circulated four photos of him, claiming they were taken during the trial.
Publishers
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be fake. The four photos are artistic.
Digitally Created Photos
A reverse image search on each of the four photos yielded no results from credible media outlets.
Misbar’s team traced the username watermarked on the four photos, finding a TikTok account holding the same username “kroelgraphics.” The user who identifies themself as a graphic designer published the four photos captioning them as “Artistic visual representation,” that does “not correspond to real photographs.”
Have there been Photos Captured of Maduro's Arraignment?
U.S. federal courts' rules prohibit photography, video recording, and live broadcasting during criminal proceedings. According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, cameras and recording devices — including mobile phones — are not permitted in federal courtrooms, except in minimal ceremonial circumstances such as naturalization or investiture events. Criminal hearings, including arraignments like Maduro’s, do not fall under these exceptions.
As a result, media coverage of federal criminal cases relies on written reporting and courtroom sketches, not photographs. Any images claiming to show Maduro inside the courtroom during his court appearance would contradict official court procedures.
This is noted in the coverage of U.S. media outlets that had reporters covering the trial. Sky News, for instance, recorded a video report of reporter Martha Kelner from outside the court after the hearing concluded, but did not provide any photos or videos of the court hearing.
Maduro’s Court Appearance
Nicolás Maduro appeared briefly before a U.S. federal court in Manhattan on January 5, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-related charges. According to Reuters, the hearing lasted less than half an hour and involved standard arraignment procedures rather than a full trial.
The detained president appeared shackled at the ankles and wearing orange and beige prison clothing, listening to the charges through headphones connected to an interpreter.
Speaking briefly before being cut off by the U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, Maduro declared his innocence, saying he had been “kidnapped” and insisting he remained Venezuela’s legitimate president.
“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” Maduro said.
U.S. prosecutors accuse Maduro of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network linked to international drug cartels. He faces four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro has long rejected the allegations, arguing they are politically motivated and tied to U.S. interests in Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Read More
Colombian President’s Speech Predates U.S. Operation in Venezuela
Video Does Not Show Recent Protests in Venezuela Over U.S. Capture of Maduro