Arizona-based Cuban influencers Yoel and Mari Díaz celebrated the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling it a hopeful sign for people living under authoritarian regimes. They compared Maduro to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, emphasized migration from Cuba and Venezuela as evidence of socialism’s failures, and urged U.S. observers to consider the complex political context. A reaction clip by the couple drew more than 10 million Instagram views, and they maintain sizable audiences across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Maduro and his wife appeared in a New York court facing U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism; he denied the allegations in court.
Cuban Influencers Hail Maduro’s Arrest As Hope For Cuba, Urge Americans To Understand Authoritarianism
Protesters rally outside the White House Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Washington, after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation.
Yoel and Mari Díaz, Arizona-based Cuban influencers known for outspoken criticism of communist regimes, celebrated the news of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest and said the development offers hope to people living under authoritarian governments.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, the couple said Maduro’s detention resonates across Latin America — especially for Venezuelans, Cubans and Nicaraguans who have experienced years of political repression. Mari called the arrest “something that we’re really happy about,” adding that while the U.S. played a role in the capture, other countries were involved as well.
Mari Díaz: "The capture of Nicolás Maduro is something that we're really happy about. Yes, he was captured. Yes, it was by the United States, but he was there because of other countries too."
Both influencers drew parallels between Maduro and other longstanding authoritarian leaders. Mari described Maduro as "a product of imperialism, Cuban imperialism," while Yoel directly compared Maduro to Fidel Castro and the late Hugo Chávez, calling them similar hard-left authoritarians.
Yoel Díaz: "It is the same like Castro. Chávez and Maduro are the same."
The moment of the arrest was emotionally charged for the couple: a reaction clip Mari posted of Yoel’s response has garnered more than 10 million views on Instagram. Yoel used a stark image to describe life in Cuba, saying, "Literally Cuba is 'The Hunger Games.'" The pair emphasized the shared experiences of Cubans and Venezuelans, noting cultural differences but underlining common consequences of authoritarian governance.
Migration, Context And Critics
Mari highlighted migration as tangible evidence of the human cost associated with socialist policies, pointing to the steady flow of makeshift boats from Cuba to Miami and the mass exodus of Venezuelans seeking refuge in the United States.
Addressing U.S. protesters who cheered Maduro’s arrest without understanding regional complexities, Mari urged deeper context. She characterized Maduro as an illegitimate leader who manipulated elections to retain power and warned that critics in the United States may lack critical background on Venezuela’s political landscape.
Mari Díaz: "They are communists because they have read about communism. We are anti-communist because we have lived in communism."
Platform Reach And Legal Case
The couple maintains a broad social-media presence: more than 232,000 followers on Instagram (@mimaincuba), nearly 500,000 on TikTok (@yoelandmari) and roughly 180,000 subscribers on YouTube (@YoelAndMari).
The arrest of Maduro and his wife led to a New York court appearance this week. Both face charges from the U.S. Justice Department, including narco-terrorism and related offenses. In court, Maduro denied the allegations, saying, "I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is written here," as the charges were read aloud.
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