Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is captured and faces legal proceedings in the United States

Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, was captured and brought to the United States to face legal charges. The event triggered widespread online misinformation, including AI-generated videos falsely showing his capture by U.S. soldiers and old footage being shared as new.

Trump declared himself 'Acting President of Venezuela' following the capture. The BBC issued a memo barring its journalists from using the word 'kidnapping' to describe the event. Legal and international questions were raised about the operation's legality, with Canada urging respect for international law.

Maduro appeared in a New York courthouse, and a 92-year-old judge appointed by former President Clinton will oversee his trial. The case is expected to revive legal debates about immunity for foreign leaders. A user on a prediction market platform reportedly made $400,000 by correctly betting on Maduro's capture.