how are the venezuelan people reacting

January 4, 2026

Venezuelan people are reacting to the capture of Nicolás Maduro with a tense mix of celebration , fear, anger, and deep uncertainty about what comes next. Reactions differ sharply between people inside Venezuela and the large Venezuelan diaspora, and even within those groups there is no single consensus.

Joy, relief, and hope

Many Venezuelans who opposed Maduro see his capture as the end of a long and painful era and are celebrating, both in Caracas and in diaspora hubs abroad. In videos and images from Caracas, Chile, Peru, Spain, and U.S. cities like Miami and Doral, people are waving Venezuelan flags, chanting “Libertad” (“Freedom”) and holding signs like “Somos Libres” (“We Are Free”).

Key elements of this hopeful reaction include:

Relief that a leader associated with economic collapse, hyperinflation, shortages, and repression has been removed.
A sense that “something had to happen” after years of crisis, and that this might be the first real opening for political change.
Emotional celebrations in the streets, with people describing a mix of excitement, tears, and catharsis after years of waiting.

Fear, anger, and rejection of the intervention

At the same time, many Venezuelans and their allies are furious or deeply uneasy about the fact that this change came through a large‑scale U.S. military operation. Pro‑government figures have denounced the action as a kidnapping and an act of war, insisting Maduro is still the “only president” and demanding his release.

Common themes in this critical reaction:

Fear that the country could descend into chaos, internal conflict, or even civil war without a clear transition plan.
Anger at what is seen as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and a continuation of a long history of U.S. military actions in Latin America.
Worries that foreign powers are less interested in democracy and more interested in Venezuela’s oil and other resources.

Mixed emotions and uncertainty on the ground

For many ordinary Venezuelans, the dominant feeling is not pure joy or pure anger, but a conflicted mixture of hope and anxiety. Some local residents describe the situation as “being in God’s hands,” capturing both relief that Maduro is gone and fear of the power vacuum and possible instability that may follow.

On the streets this looks like:

Crowds gathering, fireworks and explosions heard near airports and bases, and people glued to news reports, unsure who is really in charge.
People cautiously saying they want change but worry about reprisals, law‑and‑order breakdown, or rival factions fighting for control.
A strong sense that “ordinary people are the ones in the middle,” carrying the heaviest burden if things turn violent or the economy worsens further.

Diaspora reactions across the world

The huge Venezuelan diaspora—millions who left over the past decade—has also reacted intensely, often in very public demonstrations. In places like Miami, Madrid, Santiago, Lima, and other cities, exiles have organized rallies, vigils, and marches as they watch events unfold back home.

Within the diaspora there are at least two visible strands:

Celebratory: Many exiles who fled repression or economic ruin are jubilant, seeing the operation as the long‑awaited break that might let them return to a free country.
Cautious or skeptical: Others support Maduro’s departure but are worried about a U.S. military precedent and about who will actually govern, emphasizing that Venezuelans—not foreign governments—should shape the transition.

Online forums and wider debate

On forums and social networks, Venezuelans and observers are arguing intensely about what this moment really means. Some users welcome the outcome but debate whether outside narratives about Venezuela have been distorted or overly simplified, warning against treating any one video or commentator as the full truth.

Typical online themes include:

Disputes over media bias, with some stressing that Western coverage can be one‑sided and urging people to “ask a Venezuelan” rather than rely on outsiders.
Left‑leaning and right‑leaning users clashing over whether the U.S. role is liberation or imperialism, often referencing past interventions in Latin America.
Concern that Venezuelan refugees and migrants could face new waves of discrimination and politicization abroad, depending on how the crisis evolves.

In short , Venezuelan people are reacting in sharply different ways: some are celebrating Maduro’s fall as long‑delayed justice and a chance at freedom, others are condemning the U.S. operation as dangerous foreign interference, and many are caught in between—hopeful yet afraid of what the next days and weeks might bring.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.