YouTube removes Venezuela's Maduro account as tensions with US escalate
Photo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Getty Images)
On the evening of Saturday, September 21, YouTube removed the account of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, likely due to worsening relations with the United States, reports Associated Press.
According to the Venezuelan state channel Telesur, the YouTube account was taken down late in the evening without any explanation. Before it became unavailable, the account had over 200,000 subscribers. It was used to post Maduro's addresses and clips from his weekly show on state television.
YouTube's website states that it removes accounts that commit "repeated violations of community guidelines," including posting disinformation, hate speech, or content that "interferes with democratic processes."
Google, YouTube's parent company, has not responded to questions about the possible removal of Maduro's account. AP notes that the action comes amid rising tensions between the US and Venezuela.
Escalation between the US and Venezuela
Relations between the US and Venezuela have always been poor, but tensions surged after Trump's latest statements. He accused Venezuela of failing to take adequate action against illegal drug trafficking.
At the same time, Trump issued a secret directive instructing the Pentagon to begin preparations for the use of military force against Latin American drug cartels, which his administration has designated as terrorist organizations.
According to the White House, an American naval flotilla has already destroyed three boats suspected of transporting drugs. More than a dozen people on these vessels have reportedly died.
In addition, in 2024, Maduro faced widespread accusations of falsifying the presidential election results. Protocols collected by hundreds of Venezuelan opposition activists indicated that Maduro lost by a wide margin.
