In an eye-catching display of defiance, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro showcased his dance moves to a remix of his own peace slogans at a student rally in Caracas. This lively performance follows his recent rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” amid heightened tensions with the U.S., which has deployed warships close to Venezuela’s shores.

During the National University Student Day celebration, Maduro was recorded moving rhythmically to the music, seemingly channeling U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature dance style but with a more relaxed flair. The scene quickly captured public attention as the Venezuelan leader embraced the moment.

The electronic remix played at the event incorporated Maduro’s own words from speeches advocating peace and opposing war, reflecting the ongoing strained relations with the United States.

According to Reuters, the track was titled “Peace, yes. War, no.” At one point during the performance, Maduro playfully mimicked firing finger guns into the air, adding a lighthearted touch to the scene that was captured on film.

Just a week prior to this event, footage emerged of Maduro singing “Imagine” at a rally. He used the iconic song to call for peace while the Trump administration bolstered its military presence in the region, a move aimed at curbing drug trafficking activities.

The clip surfaced about a week after Maduro sang “Imagine” at a rally, urging peace while the Trump administration reinforced its military presence near Venezuela to stem drug trafficking.

Maduro invoked Lennon as he spoke about peace, calling the former member of The Beatles a poet and musician who left a “gift to humanity.”

He urged young people to read the lyrics, describing the song as an anthem for every generation.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores parade in a military vehicle during celebrations for the Independence Day, in Caracas on July 5, 2025.  (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

In the video, Maduro paused mid-speech to recall Lennon’s song, singing a few words before reflecting on its meaning.

“What a beautiful song. The lyrics – young people, look up the lyrics,” he said, according to a translation. “It’s an inspiration for all time. It’s an anthem for all eras and generations that John Lennon left as a gift to humanity. Long live the eternal memory of that great poet and musician, John Lennon.”

As Maduro preaches peace, the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operations in the region, including airstrikes on suspected smuggling vessels.

A U.S. military drone strike ordered by President Trump destroyed a vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Oct. 22, 2025, killing three suspected narco-terrorists, according to the Department of War. (Department of War)

On Monday, the State Department formally announced the Cartel de los Soles would be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

The Cartel de los Soles, or “Cartel of the Suns,” refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were “responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”