A 22-year-old preschool teacher in the United States was arrested by police immediately after finishing a live television interview in which she praised the controversial Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.
Interview and Immediate Arrest
Jessica Plichta, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, had just spoken to ABC 13 on January 6, 2026. She had helped organise a protest in the city and used the platform to criticise former US President Donald Trump's actions towards Venezuela. Plichta, who visited the country for a summit just three weeks prior, told the reporter that the Venezuelan people "loved" Maduro.
"Maduro was elected by the people, he's for the people, and the people want to see his return," she claimed during the interview. She argued that the issue was not merely foreign policy, stating, "This is not just a foreign issue; it's our tax dollars that are also being used to commit these war crimes."
Minutes after the broadcast concluded, officers moved in. Jessica Plichta was arrested on charges of 'obstructing a roadway' and 'failure to obey a lawful command'. Footage showed her apparent shock as she was handcuffed, declaring, "I am not resisting arrest. I am going peacefully."
Release and International Context
She was released from custody hours later. Upon her release, she was filmed raising a fist and shouting "Viva Maduro." Speaking to the outlet Zeteo afterwards, Plichta questioned the timing of her arrest, noting she was the only person detained from a protest of around 200 people. "I don't think it's a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested," she said.
Her arrest comes amid severely strained relations between the US and Venezuela. The legitimacy of Maduro's presidency, which began in 2013 and includes contested election victories in 2018 and 2025, is rejected by the US, Canada, and numerous Latin American governments.
In a separate but related development, Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom the day before Plichta's arrest. Wearing a blue jail uniform, he pleaded innocent to all charges as he and his wife faced a brief legal proceeding. This hearing is expected to begin a protracted legal battle over whether he can stand trial in the US.
Charges and Global Reactions
Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted by the US in 2020 on conspiracy charges related to 'narco-terrorism', defined by the US Office of Justice as the involvement of terrorist or insurgent groups in drug trafficking.
The US's hardline stance against Maduro has drawn significant international criticism. Both Russia and China have condemned US actions. Russia denounced what it called an "act of armed aggression," while China's Foreign Ministry said it was "shocked and strongly condemns" the US, describing its moves as a "brazen use of force against a sovereign state."
The incident in Michigan highlights how deeply polarising the Venezuela issue remains in international politics and how it can manifest in domestic protest and law enforcement actions far from Caracas.
