Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in this past Friday for another six-year term as the president of Venezuela despite widespread public disapproval, faced a wave of criticism after attempting to speak English during the inauguration ceremony. He struggled through the phrase "the crown jewel, the imperialism, The United State and Europa" with a heavy accent and then continued in Spanish, pretending to be fluent in English, declaring, "they are defeated." Social media users reacted quickly, with many exclaiming, "Not like that, Nicolás!" in response to the circulating video. Writer Emmanuel Rincón described it on his X profile as "a wild animal trying to speak English."
Maduro was inaugurated under controversial circumstances for a third consecutive presidential term, an event largely condemned by the international community due to the lack of transparency and legitimacy in the electoral process held in late July 2024 in the South American nation. Both his opponents and several foreign governments, including the United States, had urged Maduro not to take office and to begin a democratic transition following the disputed results of the July 28 election. Vote tallies presented by the opposition showed opposition candidate Edmundo González winning by a wide margin, but the Maduro regime dismissed these findings and declared victory without providing their own evidence or vote counts.
On Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado emerged from hiding to join a protest in Caracas against the alleged electoral fraud. However, as she was departing the event, Machado was briefly abducted by forces loyal to Nicolás Maduro's regime and released shortly thereafter. On X, Machado thanked Venezuelans for their participation in the protests, stating that the people showed "how to conquer fear!" She expressed immense pride in being Venezuelan, thanking the citizens who took to the streets to reclaim their July 28 victory. "My heart is with the Venezuelan who was shot when the regime's repressive forces detained me," she wrote, adding that she is now in a safe place and more determined than ever to stand with the people until the end.
This is not the first time Maduro has made a spectacle of himself while trying to speak English. In 2020, he became the subject of numerous memes after he mispronounced the name of rapper Kanye West, calling him "Kanny Wesk." In 2017, he sent a message in English to then-U.S. President Donald Trump, which likely remains indecipherable to this day.
Questions about Nicolás Maduro's Controversial Presidency
Why was Nicolás Maduro's inauguration controversial?
Maduro's inauguration was controversial due to widespread allegations of electoral fraud and a lack of transparency in the July 2024 elections, which were not recognized by significant portions of the international community.
How did social media react to Maduro's attempt at speaking English?
Social media was quick to criticize Maduro's awkward attempt at speaking English, with many users mocking him and sharing videos of the incident widely.
What actions did opposition leader María Corina Machado take following the election?
María Corina Machado emerged from hiding to participate in a protest against the suspected electoral fraud and was briefly detained by pro-Maduro forces before being released.