Cuban influencers Yoel and Mari Diaz celebrate Maduro capture with joy

Cuban influencers Yoel and Mari Díaz burst into joy following the news of the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Known for their unapologetic critiques of communism, the Arizona-based couple have built a large following on social media by comparing life under left-wing regimes with the freedoms they say come with capitalism in the United States.

The couple spoke with Fox News Digital about the news of the capture and why it gives Cubans hope.

“The capture of Nicolas Maduro is something that we are really happy about. A lot of people around the world are happy, like you said, not just the Venezuelans, the Cubans, [Nicaraguans]people who lived under a dictatorship because they never lived through one. So all I have to say is yes, he was captured. Yes, it was by the United States, but he was there because of other countries too,” Mari said.

WHO’S WHO IN THE MADURO CASE: THE JUDGE, PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CARE NOW

Mari and Yoel Diaz are Cuban influencers who share the contrast between communism and capitalism on social media. (Instagram @mimaincuba)

Mari said: “Nicolas Maduro is a product of imperialism, of Cuban imperialism.”

Yoel said Maduro is “the same” as former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, both far-left authoritarians.

“Castro is the same. Chávez and Maduro are the same,” Yoel said.

Yoel shared that the moment of finding out about Maduro’s capture was emotional and that he hopes it will be the same for the Cuban people.

“We hear people saying, hey, finally, Venezuela is free. And at that moment, my friend here,” he said, “can you imagine if we had that for the Cuban people?” Yoel said. Mari shared the video of Yoel’s reaction and it has been viewed over 10 million times on Instagram.

SCHOEN, GREEN: WE SUPPORT TRUMP ON MADURO – AND DEMAND A BETTER PLAN TO GOVERN VENEZUELA

“Cuba is literally the Hunger Games,” Yoel said.

Mari shared Yoel’s sentiment: “I am very excited about the possibility of liberation of Cuba.”

Yoel shared that Cubans and Venezuelans are very similar, with only a small difference in terms of culture.

Mari said the impact of socialism in Venezuela is very telling: “All you have to do is see the makeshift boats arriving from Cuba to Miami every year as we speak today. And the millions and millions of Venezuelans who had to jump into Venezuela, into the United States and cross that border. And it will tell you everything you need to know about socialism.

MADURO’S WIFE SUFFERED “SIGNIFICANT INJURIES” DURING DRAMATIC CAPTURE, LAWYER SAYS

Mari suggested that those protesting Maduro’s impeachment don’t understand the full context.

“They don’t know that Maduro was and is a[n] [il]legitimate president. They do not understand that Venezuela holds elections every year and that Nicolas Maduro has established himself as president once again. »

Mari added that there are many gaps and complexities that those protesting in the United States do not understand.

“Maduro lives in a democratic socialist government. He is the head of a democratic socialist government. He has committed atrocities against the Venezuelan people. And to condemn him in my opinion lacks a lot of prior knowledge and complexities,” Mari said.

Mari shared a message to those who support communist ideals.

Protesters gather in front of the White House Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Washington, after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS

“They are communists because they have read about communism. We are anti-communists because we have lived in communism,” Mari said.

They have more than 232,000 followers on their Instagram account @mimaincuba and nearly 500,000 followers on their TikTok @yoelandmari. They also share videos on the YouTube page @YoelAndMari with 180,000 subscribers.

Maduro appeared in a New York court for the first time on Monday, days after his and his wife’s arrest.

Both were indicted by the Ministry of Justice with narcoterrorism and other crimes.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is written here,” Maduro said in court as the charges against him were read.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP