A viral photo shows Nicolás Maduro without a mustache in an orange inmate jumpsuit labeled D-0329, but it is an AI-generated image. News agency EFE confirmed it does not come from official U.S. sources and shows typical deepfake errors. This comes days after the Venezuelan leader's capture in an operation ordered by Donald Trump.
The capture of Nicolás Maduro, ordered by President Donald Trump in Operation 'Resolución Absoluta,' has sparked a wave of misinformation on social media. The Venezuelan leader faces his first hearing in New York on January 5, 2026, and is detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). After official photos of his arrival aboard the U.S. Navy's Iwo Jima ship were released, fake images began circulating.
One, spread on January 8, depicts a shaved, mustache-less man in an orange jumpsuit labeled 'D-0329,' referencing Maduro. However, news agency EFE states that 'the snapshot has not been shared by any official U.S. Government source and shows signs of being generated with artificial intelligence (AI).' Analysis reveals flaws in numbers and letters, plus blurry areas, hallmarks of deepfakes.
This is not the first hoax: an earlier manipulated image faked Maduro's prison meal as sausages and rice, while the real one includes hamburger, grilled meat, and fruit. EFE found no trace of the photo on official sites like the White House or Trump's social media. The misinformation includes other images of Maduro handcuffed or posing against a height-measurement wall.
In the post-capture context, Delcy Rodríguez serves as interim president, as the U.S. pushes for economic ties, including a deal to sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil in exchange for U.S. products. Funds will be held in the U.S. Treasury for the Venezuelan people's benefit, per Energy Secretary Chris Wright: 'We are not stealing anyone's oil.' These steps aim to shield resources from creditors and compensate firms like Exxon Mobil long-term.
