Maduro’s Unusual Comedy Skit

On Thursday, Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, appeared in what some might call a strange “comedy skit” featuring an old rotary telephone. This seemed to reference a recent phone call he had with President Donald Trump.

Every week, Maduro broadcasts several radio and television programs through state-controlled media, including a new weekly podcast. In the latest 90-minute episode, he was accompanied by his wife, Cilia Flores, and other officials. Next to him, an eye-catching white-and-gold antique phone sat on his desk.

During the episode, Maduro directed various “sketches.” In one, he pretended to take a call using the vintage phone, speaking to someone who replied in “gibberish.” “Look, I’m waiting for that call you promised. Ah, a call from the moon, as usual!” he quipped, adding a musical note by briefly singing about a satellite trying to reach its controller.

Another funny moment involved him pretending he couldn’t connect on a call. He jokingly warned his wife to be cautious about “that phone call.”

For a good part of the first half, he read and commented on news headlines that were favorable to his administration. Interestingly enough, he even referenced how Venezuelan anchors historically utilized instruments like the xylophone to enliven their broadcasts, a tradition shared across various Latin American countries.

He also included a parody of a song by Dominican artist Hey Santana, titled “It’s not war, it’s peace.” Dancing along with his officials, he confidently claimed that Venezuelans love to dance to it in nightclubs.

“Maduro suddenly lives! Always delivering good news, joy, music, sports, commentary, and plenty of action for the nation,” he posted on Instagram the following morning.

There was no clear explanation behind his comedic performance, though it came shortly after both Maduro and Trump publicly acknowledged their recent phone exchange.

Trump addressed reporters while on Air Force One, stating he couldn’t gauge how well the call went, merely describing it as “just a phone call.” He didn’t delve into more specifics. Conversely, Maduro described the call as “friendly” and “cordial” during an event where he highlighted that both leaders maintained a respectful tone throughout their conversation. He even noted, “There was a sense of amicability between the president of the United States and the president of Venezuela.”

The exchange occurs against a backdrop of growing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, particularly given the deployment of U.S. troops to the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking. Maduro views this as a tactic to “invade” his country and seize its resources.

Recent reports indicate that in their call, Trump supposedly issued an “ultimatum” to Maduro, demanding he leave Venezuela immediately in exchange for safe passage. In response, Maduro has purportedly made counter-demands, including full amnesty for his family and the lifting of sanctions imposed on over 100 officials from his regime, many of whom are accused of human rights violations.