In the days following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump lauded Operation Absolute Resolve in a January 5 speech, accusing Maduro of mimicking his 'Y.M.C.A.' dance moves. Protests erupted in Caracas, Diosdado Cabello emerged as a key power broker, and Trump imposed conditions on Venezuelan oil revenues via Truth Social on January 7.
On January 5, 2026, Trump spoke at the Kennedy Center in Washington, calling the operation 'brilliant' and linking it to the war on drug cartels. He claimed Maduro had imitated his campaign dance to 'Y.M.C.A.,' stating, "He got on stage and tried to mimic my dance a little. But he's a cruel man, and he's killed millions of people. He does torture. They have torture rooms in the middle of Caracas that they're now trying to cover up." Trump also noted his wife Melania's disapproval: "My wife really doesn't like it when I do this. She says, 'that doesn't reflect a president at all.' She hates when I dance, imagine FDR dancing."
Post-capture, large-scale demonstrations protested the U.S. action in Caracas. While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president, analysts view longtime Maduro ally and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello—close to Hugo Chávez—as the true power behind the scenes.
On January 7, Trump posted on Truth Social that Venezuela's oil sale funds from a new U.S. deal could only purchase American products, including agriculture, medicines, and energy equipment. "I just got word that Venezuela will ONLY buy American-made products, with the money they receive from our new oil deal," he wrote, describing it as a wise step for both nations.
