Donald Trump has accused deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of "imitating" his dance moves before his capture this weekend.
Maduro, who pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges at a New York court on Monday, has appeared dancing in public regularly, in moves that mark some resemblance to the US President's trademark arm and hip-shimmying.
The deposed Venezuelan leader, 63, once danced to one of his speeches, "No War, Yes Peace," that had been remixed with a Latin house beat.
President Trump, in contrast, often opts for a classic rendition of Village People's "YMCA".
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His dance, lauded by supporters, is something that his wife, Melania, is left less than impressed with.
He said: "She hates it when I dance. I said, ‘Everybody wants me to dance, darling’."
He added that the first lady said "they don't like it" and that "they're just being nice to you".
But he insisted: "The place goes crazy. They’re screaming, ‘Dance, please!’”
Donald Trump has accused deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of "imitating" his dance moves before his capture this weekend
|GETTY
US media are reporting that Maduro's repeated dancing provoked President Trump, who viewed it as a form of mockery and an attempt to call his bluff.
"He gets up there and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit," President Trump said, before adding that Maduro had "killed millions of people" and was a "violent guy".
"He’s tortured – they have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas that they’re closing up," he added, without clarifying the claim.
Special US forces carried out the capture on Saturday evening, catching Venezuelan forces by surprise in an attack that killed no Americans, but left "many, many" others dead, estimated to be around 75.
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Nicolas Maduro was captured alongside his wife by US special forces last weekend
| REUTERSWhile neither the White House nor Caracas have given official figures on death tolls, Venezuelan officials claim a large part of Maduro's security had been killed "in cold blood", while Cuba said 32 members of its military and intelligence services had been killed.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez on Tuesday declared a week of mourning for members of the military killed in the raid.
On Wednesday, the President unveiled plans to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been stuck in Venezuela under US blockade.
The announcement comes after President Trump confirmed the US will "run" the country until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" can be ensured.
Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in by Venezuela's Supreme Court and has received backing from the country's armed forces
| GETTYDespite this, the initial signs show the US President may be willing to work with the interim Venezuelan President, confirming on social media that Energy Secretary Chris Wright will execute a plan for Venezuela to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil.
Based on recent prices for Venezuelan oil, the deal could be worth up to $1.9 billion.
"This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!" President Trump said.
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