For quite some time, San Francisco has been known for its eccentric and often unpredictable nature. This city, a long-time bastion of liberal ideals since the post-World War II era, has seen its progressive roots evolve into what some might call extreme. Over the past decades, the city’s political climate has often been characterized by a fervent opposition to figures like President Trump. It seems that, even if Trump were to discover a revolutionary method for producing clean, limitless energy, San Francisco’s left-wing activists might still rally against it, perhaps paradoxically in favor of coal.

Recently, the city has added another chapter to its narrative of radical activism. Demonstrators took to the streets in what appeared to be a spontaneous rally against President Trump’s stance on Venezuela, specifically his efforts to unseat Nicolás Maduro, the embattled leader often criticized as a dictator.

As with many left-wing protests, the scene was a familiar one: a mix of professionally printed banners and handmade signs, the latter often marred by misspellings and poor grammar. Many demonstrators wore masks, a lingering habit from the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the ensemble of familiar protest imagery.

What stands out, however, is the stark contrast between the protesters’ message and the sentiments of Venezuelan expatriates living in the United States. These individuals, who fled Maduro’s regime, have not joined the chorus of “Hands off Venezuela.” Instead, they have taken to celebrating in the streets, welcoming the potential for change in their homeland.

The narrative continues:

Note the usual things from leftist protests: Neatly, seemingly professionally printed signs, along with badly spelled hand-made signs with poor penmanship and worse grammar. AWFLs. People are still wearing COVID masks. It’s a cavalcade of the usual suspects.

There’s one thing, though, that makes these people look even dumber than they already do, and that’s saying something. That thing, of course, is the reaction of Venezuelan expats in the United States, people who fled the dictator Maduro’s illegitimate rule. These folks aren’t chanting “Hands off Venezuela.” They are, literally, dancing in the streets. 

“This feels like a breath of fresh air”: Venezuelans in South Florida poured into the streets of Doral early Saturday, celebrating the U.S. military action in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.

People carried Venezuela’s flag and sang together in the… pic.twitter.com/nGj4sjElBk

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 3, 2026

The post continues:

People carried Venezuela’s flag and sang together in the early morning hours. “It’s not an act of war. It’s an act of freedom,” one Venezuelan said.

One Venezuelan said. Not “one Republican said.” Not “one American right-wing war-monger said.” A Venezuelan. That seems to be the running narrative among Venezuelan expats right now.