The Democratic Socialists of America has drawn renewed attention after issuing a statement condemning U.S. military action against Venezuela and demanding the return of President Nicolás Maduro, even as widely circulated footage from Maduro’s time in power spreads online.
The resurfaced video, originally recorded during Venezuela’s 2019 protest crackdown, shows armored vehicles operated by Venezuelan security forces advancing directly into civilian demonstrators. The footage has gone viral amid debate over the Trump administration’s recent capture of Maduro and criticism of left-wing groups opposing U.S. intervention.
DSA Statement on Venezuela
In a statement published January 3, Democratic Socialists of America said “The Trump Administration has started an illegal war against Venezuela,” describing the operation as “a nakedly imperialist war to install a US puppet government.”
The statement explicitly demands “a return of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores to Venezuela,” along with the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region, an end to sanctions, and the restoration of diplomatic relations with the Maduro-led government.
DSA also rejected U.S. allegations linking Venezuela’s leadership to narcotics trafficking, arguing that such claims are being used as a pretext for military intervention and regime change.
The organization called on Americans to “protest and resist this illegal war” and urged the public to contact members of Congress to support a War Powers Resolution blocking further military action.
Video From 2019 Protests Resurfaces
At the same time, video footage from Venezuela’s 2019 unrest has reappeared and spread widely online. One widely shared post on X shows an armored vehicle operated by Venezuelan security forces driving into crowds of protesters during demonstrations in Caracas.
This is Socialism.
This is what Maduro did to his people in 2019.
He had opposition protesters RUN OVER by armored military vehicles.
This is what the Democrat Party is defending.
This is what they want to do to you.
Do not let them win.
pic.twitter.com/CYgwgKmN3k— Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) January 4, 2026
The footage dates to April 2019, when mass protests followed Maduro’s disputed re-election and opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s failed attempt to rally military defections. The video is being shared as historical footage and is not related to the current U.S. operation.
Human-rights organizations documented the use of excessive force by Venezuelan security forces during the 2019 protests, including the deployment of armored vehicles against unarmed demonstrators.
Contrasting Claims Over Narco-Terrorism Allegations
DSA’s position contrasts with prior reporting by The Dallas Express, which has published exclusive letters from former high-ranking Venezuelan military officials alleging direct cooperation between the Maduro government and international narcotics trafficking networks.
Those letters were presented as firsthand accounts from former regime insiders and attributed accordingly.
U.S. officials have long accused elements of Venezuela’s leadership of facilitating drug trafficking, allegations the Maduro government has repeatedly denied.