Opinion: The Impact of Dictator Maduro's Downfall on Key West
- Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
- 19 hours ago
- 10 min read
Opinion: The Impact of Dictator Maduro's Downfall on Key West
By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco January 6, 2026
The impact of Maduro's Downfall has been celebrated all over the world. The impact will be felt soon in Key West. The desire for freedom is innate, and it doesn't have geographical boundaries. America began as an idea—one grounded in freedom and built on the belief that our rights come from God, not government. From that foundation grew a nation shaped by liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that idea didn’t stay where it started. It inspired people across the world.
When Venezuela finally broke free from its authoritarian grip, its citizens poured into the streets—dancing, cheering, crying—overwhelmed by the realization that they were at last liberated. That kind of emotional momentum doesn’t stop at a border. It’s already moving north toward Cuba and may continue even farther.
For most of 2025, activists across the United States held rallies warning that the American president was a threat to democracy. They carried signs reading “No Kings” and cast the moment as a stand against tyranny. In Key West, demonstrators gathered at Bayview Park, convinced they were defending the nation from an authoritarian ruler.
What they overlooked was the clear outcome of the 2024 election: a decisive win in the popular vote, the electoral college, seven swing states, and the majority of U.S. counties. They also overlooked the Red Wave in Monroe County, where every Republican on the ballot won.
While those rallies made headlines, something very different was happening behind the scenes. The Trump administration, working through federal law‑enforcement and national‑security channels, moved to confront a genuine authoritarian threat in the Western Hemisphere: Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro had been indicted in 2020 on narcotics‑related charges, accused of enabling drug trafficking that contributed to tens of thousands of fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States. The Biden administration had placed a $25 million reward on his capture, yet no decisive action followed for years. Meanwhile, overdose deaths in America continued to climb.
Hypocrisy in Key West
Now that Maduro has been removed from power, Key West has been quiet—almost strangely so. There have been no rallies celebrating the fall of a real dictator, no marches standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people who endured years of repression, hunger, and violence. Every Latino in Key West knows exactly who Maduro was. Anyone who fled tyranny, or has family or friends who did, can see clearly that some of the "No Kings" protest groups are disconnected from reality.
We all remember how loud the demonstrations were when tyranny was alleged in America. Today, that same group is silent. When an actual authoritarian regime collapses abroad, they don’t celebrate—they complain. They fixate on process, questioning authority instead of acknowledging the outcome. They ignore that this wasn’t a war but a targeted law‑enforcement operation. And they dislike that it didn’t come with a long, costly military campaign like the one in Ukraine.
Many of these same voices championed the war in Ukraine, even when they couldn’t point to it on a map. Ukraine checked all the boxes for lovers of wars abroad: a long conflict with no clear end, heavy casualties, and a price tag in the billions for American taxpayers. Ukrainian flags were everywhere in Key West.
So why is it different now? Is it simply because a different president is in the White House? We Americans stood together for the cause of freedom in Ukraine, when there was much more uncertainty about its parameters. Freedom doesn’t have boundaries. It matters in Europe and in South America. Human suffering under oppressive regimes is universal. The importance doesn’t change with geography or whomever is in the White House.
The irony is hard to miss. In a country where citizens enjoy free speech, some use that freedom to attack the very system that protects them. Some might call it “biting the hand that feeds you.” History has shown, again and again, that taking freedom for granted—or trying to tear it down—comes with consequences. Freedom doesn’t sit quietly within borders. Instead, it explodes and moves outward, reaching people all over the world. It touches hearts and changes minds. It changes lives in profound ways.
Right now, people who have lived under true oppression are imagining a different future. For many, this is the first time they’ve felt genuine hope. The fall of Maduro will hit Cuba like a political earthquake. And given our history and geography, Key West may once again find itself feeling the ripple effects of that freedom in motion.
Democratic Socialism in America
Here in America, where a kind of “pretend socialism” exists, adding the word democratic in front of socialism is meant to make it sound more acceptable. But it doesn’t change the reality—lipstick on a pig doesn’t make it any prettier. So when some of the most vocal, self‑described democratic socialists reacted to Maduro’s removal, their immediate condemnation wasn’t surprising.
New York City’s newly elected Mayor Mamdani criticized the United States for defending freedom, even as Venezuelans were celebrating that very freedom just blocks away. The Democratic Socialists of America went even further, calling for Maduro’s return and for the U.S. to pull back from the Caribbean—an idea completely detached from reality.
For people who value freedom, the irony is impossible to ignore. The same freedom that allows these groups to criticize America—without fear of prison or violence—is being used to defend regimes where dissent can cost you your life. In places like Venezuela and Cuba, speaking out against those in power can mean imprisonment or worse. In the United States, that same speech is protected by the First Amendment. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.
So why don’t these "No Kings" activists use their First Amendment rights to speak out about the suffering of the Venezuelan people? In 2016, nearly 75% of Venezuelans lost an average of 19 pounds because they were starving. By 2020, a quarter of the population needed humanitarian aid, 44% of adults were unemployed, and by 2024, 86% of the country was living in poverty. Where were the rallies for that? Instead, we see socialist protests demanding Maduro’s release—protests driven more by hatred for the current president than by compassion for Venezuelans. Anyone paying attention can see that. A blind man can see it.
Here in South Florida, home to the largest Cuban community in America, people are watching these events closely. In Miami, Americans, Cubans and Venezuelans are cheering and dancing in the streets because Maduro is gone. They know what real tyranny looks like.
What happens in Caracas will inevitably ripple toward Havana. And when Cuba finally falls, the celebration will echo around the world. The Cuban people have endured more than 60 years under the same oppressive communist system. Key West knows this story well—we’ve seen the waves of families who fled that regime and built new lives just 90 miles from the island they left behind.
Key West and Cuba: A Shared History
Few American cities carry Cuba’s imprint as deeply as Key West. Long before today’s political debates, Cuban migrants arrived on this island looking for opportunity, safety, and a fresh start. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Key West even became a hub for Cuban revolutionaries fighting Spanish colonial rule—a place where money was raised, arms were gathered, and strategies were quietly shaped.
By the middle of the 1880s, one-third of Key West was born in Cuba. The first Cuban-born Mayor of Key West was Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, elected in 1876. Cubans also represented Key West in the Florida Legislature and served as justice of the peace and county judge.
Key West was also a refuge. Many Cubans fled here to escape punishment from Spanish authorities, and their presence helped transform the island’s economy. Key West was once the cigar capital of the United States, with over 200 factories operating in the 1890's. The industry was heavily influenced by Cuban immigrants, including figures like Eduardo Hidalgo Gato, who opened his first factory in 1871. Cuban Cigar production was a significant part of the local economy and culture. At one point, cigar factories dominated Key West, employing thousands of Cuban workers and making the city one of the most prosperous per‑capita communities in the country.
Cuban fishermen added to the island’s busy port life. They worked in fish houses, turtle processing plants, and the once‑thriving sponging industry. The connection between Key West and Cuba isn’t just historical—it’s woven into the island’s identity and has been for well over a century.
Throughout the 20th century, Key West’s strategic importance grew alongside its ties to Cuba. During the Spanish‑American War in 1898, the island served as a major U.S. naval staging ground, helping bring an end to Spanish rule in Cuba. In both World Wars, Key West played key roles in coastal defense and anti‑submarine operations.
Then came the Cold War, when Key West found itself on the front line during the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Some Key Westers remember when Smathers Beach was lined with guns and soldiers, ready to defend against a communist invasion from Cuba. Each of these moments brought new waves of Cuban migration—many of them passing directly through Key West on their way to freedom. Venezuela and Cuba: Kindred Spirits
Cuba’s modern transformation began in 1959, when Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista government. Just two years later, in 1961, Cuba formally declared itself a socialist state aligned with the Soviet Union. That shift reshaped South Florida almost overnight. Key West—only 90 miles away—quickly became a first point of contact for people escaping the new regime.
One of the most dramatic moments came in 1980 during the Mariel Boatlift. Over just six months, about 125,000 Cubans crossed the Florida Straits in search of safety. Thousands arrived directly in Key West, straining the island’s limited resources. Trumbo Point Naval Air Station was transformed into a refugee processing center, and the community stepped up immediately. Local churches, nonprofits, and residents worked together to provide food, shelter, medical care, and translation services. Key West once again became a place of refuge for Cuban families seeking freedom.
Venezuela’s story unfolded later, but followed a similar ideological arc. Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998 and moved the country toward socialism after taking office in 1999. By the mid‑2000s, Venezuela had fully embraced state control over its economy and oil industry. Chávez chose Nicolás Maduro as his successor, and under Maduro the country deteriorated rapidly—becoming a haven for criminal networks and hostile foreign actors. At least 8 million Venezuelans fled hunger, violence, and economic collapse.
The Domino Effect
For years, Cuba and Venezuela propped each other up. Venezuela supplied Cuba with subsidized oil, while Cuba offered intelligence, security, and political support. Their survival became tightly linked. When the United States removed Maduro from power, 32 Cuban military and intelligence personnel were killed while defending Venezuelan facilities. Cuba responded by declaring two days of national mourning.
The two nations have long been socialist partners, each relying on the other to stay afloat. Now, with Venezuela’s support gone, Cuba is facing its most serious crisis in decades. Even deeper energy shortages, economic collapse, and widespread public unrest are expected.
The only unknown is timing. And when that moment comes, Key West will feel the effects.
As conditions worsen in Cuba, humanitarian efforts based in Key West will become more important than ever. Without careful planning, a surge in Cuban migration could overwhelm the island. More than 12 million people have lived under communist repression for over half a century. When that system finally collapses, many will try to leave—and Key West is the closest safe haven.
Preparing for that possibility will require close coordination with state and federal agencies. It will also demand thoughtful humanitarian planning and some difficult policy decisions from the City of Key West.
What to Expect in 2026
The Monroe Doctrine, first announced in 1823 by President James Monroe, declared that the Western Hemisphere was off‑limits to foreign powers and that the United States would push back against outside interference in the Americas. Over the years, several presidents interpreted and applied the doctrine in their own ways. Theodore Roosevelt used it to justify U.S. involvement in the Caribbean and Central America, including Cuba, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. Woodrow Wilson relied on it during interventions in Mexico and Haiti. And during the Cold War, presidents from Kennedy to Reagan used its principles to counter Soviet influence in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Grenada.
Today, President Trump has invoked the doctrine to push back against the influence of Cuba, Russia, China, and Iran in Venezuela and across Latin America. As many presidents before him have argued, instability created by dictatorships in the region has direct consequences for U.S. security. When applied to Venezuela, the relevance of the Monroe Doctrine becomes clear.
This isn’t some far‑off foreign issue—it’s a hemispheric one. Migration, drug trafficking, terrorism, and political upheaval all ripple north. And Key West, sitting just 90 miles from Cuba and about 1,400 miles from Caracas, will feel the effects of this renewed focus on the Monroe Doctrine. The countries closest to us are on the brink of major change, and those changes will eventually reach our island.
If current trends continue, the Western Hemisphere could soon see the rise of new democracies and the unlocking of long‑suppressed economic potential. Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest oil reserves, will need enormous investment—possibly $100 billion and a decade of rebuilding—to restore its industry. At the same time, efforts to disrupt fentanyl supply chains and dismantle cartel networks have already led to record drug seizures and countless lives saved. Cuba, deeply tied to Venezuela, will undergo dramatic change as well.
All of this means Key West is likely to become a central hub for humanitarian efforts to Cuba and a home base for potential waves of migration. The scale of what may come could surpass anything Key West has ever experienced.
Image Gallery
Anti-Aircraft Guns on Smathers Beach During the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962:
Mariel Boatlift 1980
Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
Liana is a Key West native who loves writing about her island home. She taught English to students in grades 6–12 for nearly 35 years in Key West schools, sharing her love of literature and language with generations of local students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. Liana is the owner of Conch Media Group, LLC, and the creator and manager of The Key West Post. Her goal is to keep readers informed about the issues that matter most in Key West. As a lifelong local, she offers a perspective often missing from corporate media and from journalists and bloggers who are new to the island. When Liana isn't writing and managing this website, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. On most days, you’ll find her walking, biking, or running outdoors, soaking up the natural beauty, friendly people, and diverse cultures that make Key West so special.
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