Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro underscored the role of women in leadership during a Tuesday (December 30) inauguration ceremony for the International Women's Leadership School in Aragua, while delivering a critique of U.S. media coverage of his nation. Speaking at the event, Maduro accused the U.S. of disseminating misinformation about Venezuela, stating: "The United States wants to impose a veto on us, and only broadcast fake news and war against a noble country like Venezuela in the United States. Everything they say is a lie." He called on attendees to counter this perceived media narrative. Positioning women at the forefront of his vision for 2026, Maduro said: "It is the year of the admirable challenge, and I give it to women, and I put women at the forefront of the year 2026, so that women lead the admirable challenge 2026... Challenger Admirable 2026, Victory forever, forever, forever. No crazy war." The event, marked by music and dancing, included a performance of the song "No Crazy War," during which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, joined the attendees in dancing. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused the South American country of flooding the U.S. with drugs, and his administration has for months been bombing boats originating in South America that it alleges were carrying drugs. Many nations have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings. Trump has also frequently threatened to start bombing drug infrastructure on land, and has authorised covert CIA activity directed at Caracas.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA NICOLAS MADURO / MADURO DANCING

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (DECEMBER 30, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

1. ATTENDEES AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL

2. VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING [SOUNDBITE STARTS OVER SHOTS OF ATTENDEES AT EVENT]:

"The United States wants to impose a veto on us, and only broadcast fake news and war against a noble country like Venezuela in the United States. Everything they say is a lie. You (attendees) can break the veto and censorship that exists now in the United States media about the truth of Venezuela."

4. ATTENDEES DANCING, CHANTING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING [SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER DIFFERENT SHOTS OF ATTENDEES AT EVENT]:

"It is the year of the admirable challenge and I give it to women, and I put women at the forefront of the year 2026, so that women lead the admirable challenge 2026, [CONTINUES IN ENGLISH:] Challenger 2026. Victory. Challenger Admirable 2026. Victory forever, forever, forever. No crazy war."

6. MADURO AND HIS WIFE CILIA FLORES DANCING TO "NO CRAZY WAR" SONG

7. ATTENDEES DANCING TO "NO CRAZY WAR" SONG

8. MADURO AND HIS WIFE CILIA FLORES DANCING TO "NO CRAZY WAR" SONG