Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro performed a rendition of John Lennon’s song Imagine during a recent event, amidst escalating tensions with the U.S., which sends a “peace” message to President Trump.
Maduro gave a rather unsettling performance at a gathering for the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) in Miranda, an event that was required to be aired by state media.
“Second mission: Peace, peace, peace, do everything you can for peace. As John Lennon used to say, right?” Maduro said, turning to Communications Minister Freddie Alfredo Nazareth Náñez and asking how Lennon performed the song.
In an apparent effort to speak English, he began singing “Imagine,” timed with the original song playing from the stage’s sound system.
“Look, they’re pranksters,” he exclaimed, gesturing towards the stage personnel.
Footage shared globally depicted Maduro and his supporters waving and making peace signs during the performance, while he proclaimed, “Long live peace!”
“What a beautiful song, the lyrics. Young people, please look up the lyrics,” Maduro suggested.
“This is an inspiration for all time. It’s an ode to all times and generations, John Lennon’s gift to humanity,” he continued. “May the great poet and musician John Lennon be forever remembered.”
This “performance” follows a string of recent English-language messages from Maduro aimed at Trump, coinciding with U.S. military operations in the Caribbean targeting drug trafficking. This deployment aligns with Trump’s initiatives to reduce drug inflow into the U.S.
Just hours after Maduro’s event, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would designate the Sunshine Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro has been accused by U.S. authorities of multiple narcotrafficking offenses, playing a significant role—if not the leading role—in Venezuela’s drug cartel.
There’s ongoing activity in the U.S. offering a reward of $50 million for information that might lead to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.
Maduro has frequently asserted that the U.S. anti-drug measures are merely a “pretext” for an invasion aimed at toppling him and exploiting Venezuela’s natural resources.
Back in October, during another regime event, Maduro delivered another “English” appeal to Trump, requesting, “Please stop this crazy war.” Earlier that same month, he addressed the American people, stating, “It’s not a war, it’s a hole.” He urged them repeatedly, “please, please, please.”
“Listen to me, it’s not a war, yes there is a hole, people of the United States. From the people of the Bolivarian Republic,” he insisted then.
Press Secretary Caroline Levitt remarked in August, “President Trump has been very clear and consistent: We are prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from entering our country and bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela. It is a drug-terrorism cartel.”
