A wave of relief swept across Venezuela on March 3, 2026, as citizens reacted to the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro following an unexpected military operation by the United States. Early that Saturday morning, loud explosions were reported in Caracas and other cities, signaling an airstrike that targeted Maduro and his administration. The operation, confirmed by former President Donald Trump, resulted in the successful capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
As news of the attack spread, panic quickly transformed into jubilation. Venezuelans poured into the streets, celebrating what many viewed as the end of a decade-long authoritarian regime. Celebrations erupted not only in Venezuela but also among the diaspora in cities such as Miami, Madrid, and Bogotá. For the estimated seven million Venezuelans living abroad, the image of a blindfolded Maduro marked a significant turning point in their struggle for freedom.
In Doral, Florida, a community known for its Venezuelan population, crowds gathered outside El Arepazo, a historical landmark. Residents chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!” while waving the national flag, honking car horns, and singing the national anthem. Similar scenes unfolded in cities across Latin America, including Santiago and Lima, where migrants embraced each other in joyous celebration.
One celebrant, Alejandra Arrieta, shared her mixed emotions: “It is a combination of feelings, of course, there’s fear, there’s excitement. There’s so many years that we’ve been waiting for this. Something had to happen in Venezuela. We all need freedom.” Another reveler expressed that Maduro’s capture “means everything” and felt like “the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Social media was flooded with expressions of joy and relief, highlighting the long-standing desire among Venezuelans for an end to Maduro’s rule. One user stated that many had hoped for assistance from Trump to remove their “dictator leader.”
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, who has been in hiding due to threats from the Maduro government, released a message addressed to the nation. She declared that the “Hour of Freedom” had arrived and praised the US operation as a “promise fulfilled.” Machado has been an outspoken critic of Maduro, facing repeated threats of arrest.
The ousting of Maduro has ignited hopes among many Venezuelans for a brighter future. With the end of his regime, countless individuals living in exile are now contemplating a return to their homeland. The collective sentiments of fear, hope, and joy paint a vivid picture of a nation at a turning point, as the era of Chavismo, the political movement initiated by former President Hugo Chavez, appears to be drawing to a close.
As Venezuela stands on the brink of potential transformation, the world watches closely. The events of March 3 may well mark the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s history, one that many hope will lead to lasting peace and democracy.
