Trump shares old protest video as proof of Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s capture, BBC fact-check reveals

US President Donald Trump has shared a video on social media claiming it shows millions of Venezuelans celebrating the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by American forces, but a BBC fact-check has found the footage to be misleading and taken from an earlier protest in 2024.

The video, posted by Trump on his Truth Social platform on Monday, depicts a massive crowd gathered on city streets lined with palm trees and tall buildings. The clip is accompanied by a caption suggesting that Venezuelans were rejoicing after the “collapse of the Maduro regime” following his dramatic arrest by US forces. The post quickly gained millions of views and thousands of interactions.

However, BBC Verify journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh confirmed that the footage is not recent. The video was recorded in July 2024 during large-scale protests against Maduro following Venezuela’s disputed presidential election. At the time, demonstrators poured onto the streets to oppose the election results, which were widely contested by opposition groups and sections of the international community.

The same video was also shared by far-right commentator Alex Jones, founder of InfoWars, further amplifying its reach online.

Trump’s post came just two days after US Army Delta Force personnel reportedly carried out a high-risk operation in Caracas, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple was subsequently flown to New York City, where Maduro made his first court appearance on narco-terrorism charges on Monday.

The capture marks a dramatic escalation in Washington’s long-running campaign against the Maduro government. In recent months, the US has intensified pressure through military deployments in the region, strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, and expanded intelligence operations inside Venezuela. The administration has also authorised the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers as part of its crackdown.

Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of facilitating large-scale drug trafficking into the United States, allegations the Venezuelan leader has consistently denied. Maduro, in turn, has accused Washington of attempting to destabilise Venezuela, seize its vast oil resources, and push the country into what he described as a “new eternal war”.

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While the arrest has triggered global reactions, the resurfacing of old protest footage highlights growing concerns over misinformation and misleading narratives surrounding Venezuela’s rapidly unfolding political crisis.