Costly moves? Did Maduro’s dances trigger Trump to attack Venezuela?

It’s a new world order wherein the slightest of slights may get you in trouble. What are we talking about? Donald Trump, of course. It seems that even the tiniest of snubs could get on the wrong side of the US president.

He doesn’t like you dancing, he could capture you from your residence and fly you to New York to face criminal charges. For those who are still scratching their heads, all you have to do is turn your attention to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by elite US troops in the wee hours of Saturday (January 3) and brought to the US to face charges of narco-terrorism. Apparently, it was Maduro’s defiant dancing that rubbed Trump the wrong way. He then ordered the daring military operation to seize him.

• Catch live updates from the US-Venezuela tensions here

Maduro shows off his singing and dancing skills

In the months before being captured and taken to the US, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was often seen singing and dancing in public appearances, even as he faced increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Last November, the Venezuelan leader was captured on camera singing John Lennon’s Imagine. “Do everything for peace, as John Lennon used to say, right?” Maduro said as he addressed a crowd. “It is an inspiration for all times. It is an anthem for all eras and generations, left by John Lennon as a gift to humanity.”

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Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro breaks into singing John Lennon's 'Imagine' as he talks about US tensions. pic.twitter.com/R270tpM5AF

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 16, 2025

This incident occurred while the Trump administration reinforced its military presence near Venezuela to stem drug trafficking.

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Then in late November, Maduro took the stage at a student rally in Caracas. This time, he showed off his moves when he began bouncing to an electronic remix of his own voice. The track looped his words in English: “No war, no crazy war, no, no, no. Peace, peace, yes peace.” He jumped. He swayed. He pumped his fists while supporters waved flags. State media broadcast it all.

DANCE DIPLOMACY: Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro dances to a remix of his own peace slogans at a rally as U.S. warships patrol nearby amid rising tensions. pic.twitter.com/WsKxqXJpSF

— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 25, 2025

Maduro’s dancing took it too far for Trump

But it seems that Maduro’s swaying and fist-pumping didn’t impress Trump, who is also fond of dancing, too much. In fact, according to a New York Times report, it was these antics by the Venezuelan leader that pushed the US president into ordering the operation against Maduro.

As per the New York Times, Maduro’s dancing came shortly after he rejected an ultimatum from Trump to leave office and go into exile in Turkey. In fact, the viral moment came just after the US military carried out a strike on a dock that the Trump administration said was used for drug trafficking.

The news report citing officials said that “Maduro’s regular public dancing and other displays of nonchalance in recent weeks helped persuade some on the Trump team that the Venezuelan president was mocking them and trying to call what he believed to be a bluff.”

The sources said, “the performances were read inside the administration as deliberate provocation”. “It was one dance move too many.”

Then came Operation Absolute Resolve

Following this, US President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission that saw the capture of Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound in Caracas.

In the wee hours of Saturday, under the cover of explosions and the dark of night, troops from the US army’s Delta Force stormed into the “highly guarded” presidential palace, which Trump described as a “heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas”. Maduro had nearly made it to a safe room inside it, Trump told reporters, although “he was unable to close it”.

Providing more details, Trump said a few US members of the operation were injured but he believed no one was killed. “A couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape,” he said, adding, “We had to do it because it’s a war.”

Maduro captured and appears in US court

On Monday (January 5), days after his capture, Maduro appeared in a Manhattan court, with his wife, Cilia Flores. In court, Maduro declared himself “the president of my country”, and pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration have levelled against him.

The 63-year-old was brought to court under heavy security early Monday — flown by helicopter to Manhattan from Brooklyn, where he is jailed, and then driven to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. He and Flores were led into court just before noon. Both were in leg shackles and jail-issued garb.

While many may believe this story is a stretch, it’s plausible. After all, another report suggests that Trump didn’t extend support to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as a potential interim leader owing to her decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize — an award the US president was coveting.

A Washington Times report citing sources said, “If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today.”

Machado’s acceptance of the prize was an “ultimate sin,” the person adds in the report.

In light of these reports, there’s one lesson for everyone — don’t anger Trump, or you are definitely going to lose out.

With inputs from agencies