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Venezuelans who despised President Nicolas Maduro and have longed for his removal embraced, sang, and wept with happiness on Saturday following his capture in a dramatic nighttime raid by US military forces.
Now, these Venezuelans, who fled their homeland due to economic struggles or political oppression, are optimistic about a brighter future for Venezuela after enduring years of crisis.
Before dawn, crowds of Venezuelans began to gather outside El Arepazo, a popular eatery in Doral, a city in Miami where over 40 per cent of residents are Venezuelan.
“We woke up with the news that someone finally had done justice, and this fills us with happiness,” said Douglas Zarzalejo, a 55-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Florida for 11 years.
“Our country’s recovery has begun,” he added.
Many of the celebrants waved the tricolour Venezuelan flag while singing and hugging each other in response to the news of Maduro’s downfall, who was apprehended along with his wife, Cilia Flores. They were being transported out of the country toward New York to face charges of “narco-terrorism” and weapons offences.
The Venezuelans present hold him responsible for the country’s disastrous decline from once being oil-rich to becoming an economic failure plagued with shortages and severe political oppression.
Amid the joy, a young man brandished a sign that stated, “Trump was right about everything.”
To many in Doral, Trump is viewed as a hero. He conducted a prolonged campaign of military pressure leading up to the pre-dawn operation and compared Maduro to a drug lord whose time was running out.
“Trump will go down in history as the first president who finally faced up to these corrupt people who kidnapped our country,” said Zarzalejo.
As Trump began a midday press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate to discuss the overnight operation that captured Maduro, the hundreds of Venezuelans celebrating in Doral became quiet to listen attentively on their phones.
Trump said that the United States would run Venezuela until a transition could take place and somewhat dampened the celebratory atmosphere when he mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in communication with Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s loyal vice president.
“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said.
For some Venezuelans in Florida, the cloud of uncertainty now hanging over Venezuela saps the euphoria they feel over the ouster of Maduro.
“I do not know what is going to happen. Trump just said that the vice president is with him. He is crazy. Everyone loves Maria Corina,” said Eleazar Morrison, a 47-year-old Venezuelan.
Raul Chavez, a Venezuelan living in Miami, said he was worried by the remarks of Trump, who also said the United States will now tap Venezuela’s oil wealth.
