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Following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces, social media was flooded with memes that parody the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel's fear of a potential intervention by Donald Trump in Cuba. From comparisons with the Venezuelan leader to jokes about his whereabouts and his alleged "sleepless night," Cuban users turned the regime's fear into viral material.
Maduro's arrest unleashed a wave of humor across Latin America, and Díaz-Canel has not escaped the fire from internet users. Within hours, social media was flooded with images, videos, and jokes that satirize 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 depicting Díaz-Canel packing his bags, hiding in Varadero, or seeking political asylum in Nicaragua. Others recreate scenes where Trump is shown saying, "After Maduro, we're coming for you, Miguel."
The overall tone of the memes blends humor with direct political criticism. Many users point out that after the military operation that ousted Maduro from power, the Cuban regime appears more nervous than ever. "Díaz-Canel must be looking at the sky waiting for the helicopters of the Delta Force," wrote a user from Miami, referring to the military unit that captured the former Venezuelan president.
Jokes are also proliferating among Cubans on the island, despite official censorship. Images of Díaz-Canel with a worried expression are circulating in Telegram groups and WhatsApp channels, accompanied by phrases such as "Turn off the light, Lis, the Yankees are coming" or "GAESA in panic mode."
Beyond the laughter, memes reflect a shared fear in Cuban power circles: that Maduro's fall could signal the beginning of the end for the 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 pressure 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 arrest, the Cuban people express themselves with irony. On social media, the most frequently asked question is a simple one: Who will be next?
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