During recent carnival celebrations in Peru, a colorful and humorous display was seen that reflected the celebratory mood that emerged following the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Amid parades, costumes, and street performances, some groups included representations of figures such as Donald Trump and Maduro, showing how popular culture also incorporates the regional political context into its festive expressions—in an atmosphere of joy marking the end of an era of repression.
The presence of these figures, accompanied by festive gestures and phrases such as “Donald, throw a step,” was interpreted by many attendees and passersby as a recognition of the action led by President Trump, understood by celebrants as a historic moment that brings hope and a possible democratic rebirth for Venezuela. Carnival, traditionally a space for joy and social critique, thus also became a stage for expressing feelings of liberation and hemispheric solidarity.
It is no coincidence that in Peru—home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities outside Venezuela—festivities have incorporated recent political events. Dozens of Venezuelans living in Lima took to the streets to celebrate Maduro’s capture, chanting and waving tricolor flags in a mix of emotion, singing, and tears over what they consider the end of a long dictatorship.
These kinds of popular expressions show how U.S. intervention and the fall of an authoritarian regime can resonate beyond borders, permeating cultural events and festive traditions in other Latin American nations. Beyond the humor and color, the carnival became a platform where symbols of freedom and justice are celebrated, and where citizens from different parts of the world express their joy over what they perceive as a historic victory against authoritarianism.
