Venezuelans Abroad Celebrate as Maduro is Removed from Power

Venezuelans around the world took to the streets in celebration following the U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power.

From Miami and Madrid to Santiago, large crowds of Venezuelan expatriates waved flags, sang, and embraced, expressing hope for a future they could return to. Many in the diaspora—estimated at nearly 8 million—fled years of economic crisis and political repression under Maduro’s rule.

“For the first time, we can truly think about going back home,” said Yurimar Rojas, a street vendor in Santiago, Chile. In Miami, celebrants praised U.S. President Donald Trump, with one attendee stating, “Today, the dreams of Venezuelans abroad finally came true.”

Despite the jubilation, uncertainty remains. While Trump indicated the U.S. would oversee a temporary transition, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez insisted Maduro remains the country’s “only president.” Opposition leader María Corina Machado also addressed crowds remotely, affirming, “Venezuela will be free.”

The global celebrations reflect both deep relief and cautious hope among a dispersed population longing for change in their homeland.