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Following Nicolás Maduro's arrest by U.S. special forces, social media was flooded with memes parodying the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel's fear of a potential intervention by Donald Trump in Cuba. From comparisons to the Venezuelan leader to jokes about his whereabouts and his supposed "sleepless night," Cuban users turned the regime's fear into viral content.
The arrest of Maduro sparked a wave of humor throughout Latin America, and Díaz-Canel has not escaped the fire of internet users. Within hours, social media was flooded with images, videos, and jokes that mock the Cuban leader's fear of facing the same fate as his Venezuelan ally.
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, thousands of users shared memes showing Díaz-Canel packing his bags, hiding in Varadero, or seeking political asylum in Nicaragua. Others recreate scenes where Trump is depicted saying, "After Maduro, we’re coming for you, Miguel."
The overall tone of the memes blends humor with direct political criticism. Many users emphasize that, following the military operation that removed Maduro from power, the Cuban regime seems more nervous than ever. “Díaz-Canel must be looking up at the sky waiting for the Delta Force helicopters,” wrote a user from Miami, referring to the military unit that captured the former Venezuelan leader.
Jokes are also proliferating among Cubans on the Island, despite official censorship. In Telegram groups and WhatsApp channels, images of Díaz-Canel with a worried expression circulate, accompanied by phrases like “Turn off the light, Lis, the Yankees are coming” or “GAESA in panic mode.”
Beyond the laughter, the memes reflect a shared fear within the circles of power in Cuba: that the fall of Maduro could signify the beginning of the end for authoritarian regimes allied with chavismo. The White House, under the presidency of Donald Trump and the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has reiterated that "no dictator is beyond the reach of justice."
Analysts consulted by CiberCuba believe that popular humor serves as a release valve against fear, frustration, and the lack of freedoms on the Island. “Memes have become a form of political and cultural resistance. Mocking those in power is, today, an act of bravery,” noted a digital communication expert based in Madrid.
While the Cuban regime remains officially silent about Maduro's detention, the Cuban people are expressing themselves with irony. On social media, the most repeated question is simply: Who will be next?
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