Nicolas Maduro, the socialist leader of Venezuela, claimed on Monday that he is “more famous than Taylor Swift” in the U.S. due to media attention.
During an event with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which was aired by the state-run VTV channel, Maduro expressed his surprise at the coverage of himself in U.S. media, stating that this attention has made him feel “more famous” than various international artists, including Taylor Swift.
“It’s surprising—I’m famous! More famous than Taylor Swift right now. Even more than Karol G and Bad Bunny. You know, I’ve been thinking about recording an album to fund some local projects,” he said, adding, “I think I can sing alright, not too shabby, really.”
Maduro attributed his unexpected fame to his humble beginnings, describing himself as a “boy from the suburbs of Caracas,” saying he now serves as “a great inspiration to the American empire.”
“What are they afraid of? It’s not just me; it’s all those who stand firm, Bolivarians, Chavistas,” he declared, asserting, “We control our destiny and will never yield to imperialism, no matter the threat to our nation.”
He suggested that the attacks from U.S. media are rooted in the notion that “the vision of imperialism is personified in one man” and maintained that, “If they say outrageous things and lies that nobody believes, there’s a reason for that.”
Maduro faces multiple drug-terrorism charges from U.S. authorities and is labeled as a key figure in the Sunshine Cartel, a noted international cocaine-trafficking network intertwined with the socialist government and the military in Venezuela.
In recent weeks, both Maduro and other socialist officials have claimed that U.S. military operations targeting drug traffickers are merely a cover for an invasion plot to dethrone him and exploit Venezuela’s resources. In late October, he alleged his government had thwarted three “CIA terrorist plots” but provided no evidence for these claims.
He also made a somewhat erratic address to then-President Trump, imploring, “Please stop this crazy war,” repeating, “No war, yes peace, forever peace.”
At a socialist gathering, Maduro defended the PSUV’s role in recent “electoral conundrums,” dismissing critiques of his administration that promotes “Venezuelan democracy.”
“Out of 32 elections in 26 years, we have won 30. We’ve elevated our people’s consciousness and established a strong system of popular values,” he claimed.
“We’ve navigated difficult electoral processes. Some Latin American peers admire us, while others are envious. I don’t envy anyone—do what you need to do and leave us be.”
Maduro rose to power in 2013 after Hugo Chavez named him as his successor shortly before his death. Since then, he has maintained his position through controversial elections that allowed only selected opponents to participate.
In the past 26 years, Maduro’s government claims to have “lost” only two elections. The first was in 2007, which narrowly defeated Chavez’s attempts to amend the constitution for socialist reforms. Regardless, Chavez imposed reforms through various laws until his passing in 2013.
The second incident occurred in 2015 when the opposition won a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, leading to swift legal maneuvers that rendered their efforts moot.
On July 28, 2024, on the anniversary of Chavez’s birthday, Maduro oversaw another contested presidential election. The opposition consolidated support around Edmundo González, an allowed candidate, while the regime barred others, despite claims of high approval ratings for Maduro. The opposition asserted Gonzalez won convincingly based on unofficial tallies.
Opposition leaders, including María Colina Machado, disputed Maduro’s declared win, citing obtained voting data that suggested otherwise. Machado remains in hiding since the 2024 election.
In recognition of her efforts to restore democracy, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, inciting public backlash against Maduro’s administration.
