Fame or infamy? Maduro jokes he’s more popular than Taylor Swift in the US
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attempted to make light of his heated tensions with US President Donald Trump, saying that, given the rate at which American media is covering him, he is now more famous than Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny.
"One never ceases to be surprised. And I say: 'Damn, I'm famous. I'm more famous than Taylor Swift in the United States right now, than Karol G. I'm more famous than Bad Bunny. I even feel like recording an album,'" Maduro quipped.
Maduro, who has been the Venezuelan president since 2013, is locked in a conflict with Trump stemming from Washington’s growing presence in the Caribbean.
A number of Venezuelan boats, accused by Trump of carrying drugs, have been sunk in the Caribbean in the past months.
Trump had even threatened a land attack to foil “a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela.”
Despite the US-Venezuelan tension getting fatal, Maduro insisted there was nothing to fear.
"What are they afraid of, if it's not me? It's people standing tall in battle, Bolivarian Chavistas, masters of their own destiny, who will never be humiliated and who will defeat imperialism in any of the threats they attempt against our beloved homeland," he said.
Venezuela responded to US provocations by activating a defence plan on its coasts, which involves 27 territorial operations that would be employed in the event of a direct attack from Washington.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
