During a student rally in Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro showcased his dance moves to a remix featuring his own peace slogans. This event marked another instance of his defiance, following his rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” while U.S. naval forces remain stationed near Venezuela’s coastline.

Footage from the celebration of the National University Student Day captured Maduro grooving to the music. Observers noted his dance style bore a resemblance to U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature moves, albeit with a more relaxed rhythm.

The remix, infused with Maduro’s speeches advocating for peace and opposing conflict, was identified by Reuters as “Peace, yes. War, no.” At one memorable moment, the Venezuelan president humorously engaged with the audience, making playful finger gun gestures in sync with the beat.

These antics occurred against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Venezuela and the United States, adding a layer of complexity to Maduro’s performance at the rally.

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro delivers the annual address at Teatro Teresa Carreno in Caracas, Venezuela on Jan. 15, 2025. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

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.”