In a move that has caught the attention of many, Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, has seemingly taken inspiration from former U.S. President Donald Trump. During a weekend rally, Maduro was captured on video engaging in a dance eerily reminiscent of Trump’s characteristic moves.

With fist-pumping enthusiasm and a side-to-side sway, Maduro’s performance mirrored the style often associated with Trump, adding a layer of intrigue to the South American leader’s public appearance. The dance, which many found unexpected, sparked discussions and comparisons across social media platforms.

Former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz weighed in on the subject, sharing a video of the event on X (formerly known as Twitter), and highlighting the similarities by stating, “In a surprising move, Maduro is now doing the Trump dance.”

Maduro’s routine included lively foot shuffling, energetic jumps, and arm swings, all set to a remix of his previous speeches. The music, an electronic dance remix, featured his own voice repeatedly emphasizing, “No crazy, no crazy war no, no, no, no,” in a somewhat ironic nod to his usual rhetoric against U.S. conflicts.

Maduro was shuffling his feet, jumping and swinging his arms to a remix of his own past remarks denouncing conflict with the US.

‘No crazy, no crazy war no, no, no, no,’ the electronic dance music remix blared.

Observers online speculate that AI generated the catchy tune. While addressing a group of students in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, Maduro called on those in attendance to share his regime’s anti-war message. 

White House spokesman Anna Kelly told the Daily Mail: ‘President Trump’s signature moves and unmatched aura are often imitated, but never duplicated.’

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro dances on the day of a march marking Venezuelan Student Day in Caracas on Friday

Maduro’s fist pumps were reminiscent of Donald Trump’s favorite dance move, seen in Japan last month

During his remarks over the weekend, Maduro called for ‘no war’ despite the US military’s buildup in the Caribbean to combat Venezuelan drug trafficking 

The calls for peace come as the US has ramped up its military presence in the region – the largest deployment in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis – and American soldiers have been given orders to be ready for potential land strikes in Venezuela in the coming weeks. 

‘SOUTHCOM is restricting / limiting leave over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, in preparation for possible land strikes in the next ten days to two weeks, I am told by a source,’ NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer reported on Monday. 

The dispatch is the latest signal that American forces are eyeing operations within the South American country that the Trump administration claims is complicit in narco-terrorism. 

In addition, the Trump administration designated a Maduro-linked group, Cartel de los Soles, as a terrorist organization on Monday. 

The new designation ‘brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States,’ Pentagon boss Pete Hegseth said last week. 

In existence since at least the 1990s, the cartel originally consisted of high-ranking Venezuelan military officials who profited from drug trafficking. 

Today, the group consists of political leaders as well as Venezuelan government officials who are accused of a slew of illicit activities, from illegal mining to arms trafficking and money laundering. 

Trump appeared open to striking Venezuela directly last week when pressed by reporters.

‘I don’t rule out anything,’ he said when asked about military action against the country.  

Since August, US Southern Command has built up a major force consisting of thousands of troops and scores of ships and aircraft in the Caribbean. The effort is to combat Venezuelan narco-terrorism, the Trump administration claims. 

Some analysts believe the ultimate goal of the pressure campaign is to push Maduro from power. 

On November 16, the US’s largest operating aircraft carrier, the Gerald R Ford, arrived in the Caribbean to reinforce the previously deployed troops, joining a sizable force that includes the military’s top tech, like F-35 fighter jets and a nuclear submarine.

Over the past few months, US forces have bombed at least 20 alleged drug-running boats, killing more than 80 people. The Trump administration has not provided any evidence that the targeted boats were carrying substances.

Reports indicate that US covert operations within the South American country could be the first step to a larger conflict. 

In August, the US raised the bounty on Maduro to $50 million.