“Those who say that the U.S. is only interested in our oil, I ask you: What do you think the Russians and the Chinese wanted here?
Screenshot/X/@visegrad24/@GordoEdicion
A Venezuelan man celebrating the Trump administration’s capture and removal of socialist leader Nicolás Maduro pushed back against criticism of the operation by using a pointed analogy involving one of Venezuela’s most recognizable foods.
While the Trump administration said the decision to remove Maduro from power was driven largely by allegations that he led a narco-terrorism network, several Democratic U.S. lawmakers criticized the move, arguing it was motivated by a desire to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. A Venezuelan expatriate addressed that accusation in a video that quickly went viral on social media after being recorded at what appeared to be a large public celebration in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“For those who say the United States only wanted our oil, I ask this: What do you think Russia and China wanted here? The recipe for arepas?” the man said in Spanish. The clip had garnered millions of views on X within hours of being posted Saturday evening.
Arepas are round cornmeal flatbreads commonly eaten plain or filled with ingredients such as cheese or meat. They are a staple food in Venezuela and neighboring Colombia and are widely associated with Venezuelan culture.
Celebrations erupted among Venezuelan expatriate communities around the world following Maduro’s removal. In Doral, Florida—a city where roughly 40 percent of the population is of Venezuelan descent—hundreds of residents gathered in the streets waving flags, dancing, and playing music after news broke of the longtime leader’s capture. Maduro had ruled Venezuela for approximately 13 years.
Venezuelan man:
“Those who say that the U.S. is only interested in our oil, I ask you: What do you think the Russians and the Chinese wanted here?
The recipe for arepas?” pic.twitter.com/BWpCmCxFGI
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 4, 2026
During his time in power, Maduro maintained close ties with U.S. adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran.
China, which has been Venezuela’s largest oil importer since 2019, stands to lose significantly following Maduro’s arrest. Reuters reported that in 2025 the majority of Venezuela’s crude oil exports were sent to China.
Earlier in the week, Russia formally urged the United States to stop pursuing a rogue oil tanker headed toward Venezuela after the vessel fled the U.S. Coast Guard and claimed Russian protection, according to a report by The New York Times.
Both China and Russia strongly condemned the Trump administration’s actions. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Saturday statement that Beijing “firmly opposes” the U.S. operation, calling it a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty that threatens regional stability.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a similar response the same day, describing the operation as “an act of armed aggression.”
“This causes deep concern and condemnation,” the statement read. “We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the course of its Bolivarian leadership aimed at defending the country’s national interests and sovereignty.”
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