News Beat
Awkward moment Venezuela tyrant Maduro salsas with robot as US flies special operations troops into Caribbean
THIS is the moment Nicolás Maduro sways awkwardly to Venezuelan Christmas music, grinning as he shuffles side-to-side with a humanoid robot.
The a bizarre, almost comic spectacle was staged just as the United States tightens the military and economic noose around his regime.
Footage shows the Venezuelan tyrant bobbing to the beat of a ‘gaita’, the festive rhythm pumping through the hall as the robot jerks and pivots beside him, arms stiff, head nodding on cue.
The dance took place Monday during the inauguration of Expo Motores Productivos 2025, a government-backed trade fair in Caracas.
Broadcast live on state TV, it showed Maduro laughing and stepping in time with an artificial intelligence robot as the Christmas carol played.
The political theatre was clearly deliberate as Maduro used the same event to fire off a message aimed directly at Americans, casting himself as the calm voice of peace while accusing the US of plotting war and regime change.
He said: “To the people of the United States, Merry Christmas!
“To the people of the United States, no to war Merry Christmas! Don’t worry, be happy. Be happy, be happy! Be happy like a worm and make others happy too.”
He framed the appeal as a plea to ordinary Americans to reject what he described as “insane minds” pushing the US toward war over oil and resources.
Maduro went on to accuse President Donald Trump’s administration of trying to overthrow his government and seize Venezuela’s energy wealth.
The despot even took a personal jab at Trump, saying: “I think President Trump could do better in his country and in the world. He would be better off in the world if he focused on the problems of his own country.
“It’s not possible that 70% of his speeches and statements are about Venezuela. And the United States?”
And Maduro is not alone in his robotic stagecraft.
Last month, Vladimir Putin – Maduro’s key international backer – was also shown on state television admiring a dancing humanoid robot in Moscow.
The AI-powered machine, staged by Sberbank, introduced itself, boasted of its sensors and motors, then launched into a choreographed routine to a Russian folk-pop song.
“Very beautiful. Thanks,” Putin said, as wary Kremlin bodyguards hovered nearby.
As Maduro shimmied with his robot partner in Caracas, Trump was escalating pressure at sea and in the air.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration has flown large numbers of special-operations aircraft, troops and equipment into the Caribbean this week, dramatically expanding America’s military options around Venezuela.
At least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft moved into the region from New Mexico.
C-17 cargo planes also arrived in Puerto Rico carrying personnel and equipment from elite units including the 27th Special Operations Wing, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Army Rangers.
Retired Air Force lieutenant general David Deptula said: “They are prepositioning forces to take action.
“The question that remains is to accomplish what?”
Trump has already made his intent clear, saying: “We have a massive armada formed, the biggest we’ve ever had, and by far the biggest we’ve ever had in South America.”
On land operations, he added: “Soon we will be starting the same program on land.”
At the same time, Washington is choking off Maduro’s lifeline: oil.
US forces have now intercepted a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela this month as part of a “total and complete blockade” ordered by Trump.
The Coast Guard boarded the Panamanian-flagged Bella 1, a sanctioned tanker accused of operating as part of a shadow fleet designed to dodge restrictions.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said: “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region.
“We will find you, and we will stop you.”
Trump was blunt when asked what would happen to seized oil, saying: “We keep it, I guess.”
