Venezuela's Maduro Slams YouTube Censorship, Claims More People Are Watching Him Now: 'Imperialist Fools'

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro attacked YouTube during the weekend after the platform removed his official channel last week, accusing the company of censorship while insisting his speeches continue to circulate online.

"YouTube's owners failed. People keep watching me on YouTube. Take down as many accounts of me as you want, imperialist fools," Maduro said in a televised address broadcast on state channel VTV. He added, "The more censorship, the farther the message spreads. Keep it up, imperialist fools at YouTube. Congratulations on your decision—employee of the month for stupidity."

Maduro's official channel had more than 230,000 subscribers and regularly featured his speeches and appearances. Its removal follows earlier closures of other pro-government accounts, including the state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión in 2020 and a program hosted by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello in 2024, as El Economista points out.

YouTube confirmed last week that the action complied with U.S. sanctions targeting the Venezuelan government. "YouTube, like all U.S. companies, is required to comply with applicable sanctions," company spokesperson Jack Malon told CNN last week, noting that the platform enforces its rules under Google's terms of service.

The decision comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Washington accuses Maduro of leading the Cartel of the Suns, a network of military officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The U.S. Justice Department has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest, and the Trump administration has expanded naval deployments in the Caribbean as part of anti-drug operations.

Maduro responded to the closures by framing them as part of a broader campaign against his government. He said Venezuela was prepared to activate a "state of external commotion" if attacked militarily and emphasized that the country's armed forces were "cohesive and fully capable of defending peace and sovereignty."

"Today we have a united military force, fully capable of deployment to preserve peace and protect every corner of Venezuela," Maduro said on Telegram. He also called on Caribbean nations to work with Venezuela for "regional peace and sovereignty," while insisting his government would defend the country "with dignity, sovereignty, and intact resources."

The removal of Maduro's channel adds to a growing list of restrictions he has faced on international platforms, including temporary suspensions from Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp in recent years.