How Maduro’s public dancing led to his downfall as livid Trump grew uninterested in his ‘nonchalance’ regardless of warnings

Nicolas Maduro provoked President Trump’s team into action after his dance moves and nonchalance were taken as mockery in recent weeks, sources have reportedly claimed.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sang and danced in the weeks leading up to his capture by US commandos along with his wife Cilia from their compound in Caracas on January 3.

Insiders told The New York Times that the left-wing leader’s flippant antics were an attempt to call what he believed was the Trump administration’s bluff, which ultimately became their breaking point.

The dance – which seemingly copies Trump’s famous fist-pumping moves – was seen during the opening of the International School for Women’s Leadership in December, when Maduro started moving to an electronic remix of his own speech, ‘No War, Yes Peace’.

Maduro danced alongside his wife as the upbeat song begged for peace between the two countries.

The dictator had made dancing and singing a staple of his own and had previously sung John Lennon‘s classic song ‘Imagine ‘ in November.

‘Do everything for peace, as John Lennon used to say, right?’ Maduro said as he addressed a crowd. ‘It is an inspiration for all times. It is an anthem for all eras and generations, left by John Lennon as a gift to humanity.’

The former president’s nonchalant behavior continued even after he was extradited, with his first public remarks since his capture being ‘Happy New Year’ as he was shackled and perp walked.

Maduro continues to throw up peace signs and hold two thumbs up as he arrived in New York City to stand trial on drug and weapons charges.

They landed by helicopter in Manhattan on Saturday evening, after earlier making stops at airfields in upstate New York and Puerto Rico.

Maduro and Flores are now in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, which is famous for its squalid conditions and has also housed Luigi Mangione and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

Trump said the United States would govern Venezuela indefinitely in the meantime, after dismissing the prospect of the country’s popular opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, taking the reins, claiming she ‘does not have the support’.

Trump offered little further detail on the logistics of running Venezuela, which has a population of 30 million, but suggested the country’s vast oil reserves would be used to fund its revival.

Maduro’s arrest came after US forces struck Caracas amid accusations from Trump that Venezuela has been flooding the US with drugs and gang members.

Trump alleged that Maduro is the leader of the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) drug trafficking operation.

Trump said Saturday that he had not briefed Congress of his plans to snatch Maduro, claiming that had he done so, the news would have ‘leaked’ and potentially helped the Venezuelan leader to evade capture.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has been tipped as the country’s next president.

She previously voiced support for Trump’s threats to get rid of Maduro and is hugely popular among the Venezuelan electorate.

Maduro’s capture sparked jubilation from Venezuelan migrants living outside of their home nation on Saturday.

Hundreds took to the streets of cities, including Santiago in Chile, to celebrate the ouster of a leader seen as a corrupt authoritarian accused of destroying the economy of his oil-rich country while silencing dissent.

The atmosphere appeared altogether more muted in Caracas.

Locals were photographed lining up outside supermarkets amid fears Maduro’s ousting will lead to even greater economic uncertainty.

Shortly before Saturday’s press conference, the president shared an undignified photo of Maduro in a tracksuit taken after his capture.

He said the Venezuelan president’s wife will also be charged, but did not offer further details.

Maduro was photographed wearing a heavy black plastic eye mask and ear muffs over his ears in an apparent bid to keep his location a secret from him.

He was clad in a gray tracksuit and clutched a plastic water bottle. It is unclear if this is what Maduro was wearing when he was taken or if it was given to him by US forces.

The image was a far cry from his usual appearance in sharp suits or military regalia, with CNN commentators speculating it had been chosen to humiliate the corrupt leader.

There was no sign of Cilia.

Addressing a press conference in Mar-a-Lago Saturday, Trump told journalists that the Venezuelan first lady was part of her husband’s alleged schemes and that she too will face criminal charges in Manhattan.

‘Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice,’ Trump declared.

The Maduros are said to have been frightened of capture by US forces and allegedly took to sleeping in a different place every night.