In a scathing segment on The Daily Show, correspondent Ronny Chieng delivered a blistering critique of the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela following a deadly U.S. military raid last weekend. Chieng accused the administration of using a narrative of spreading freedom to justify what he characterized as a resource grab.
Satire Targets 'Freedom' Narrative and Oil Demands
Opening his Wednesday monologue, Chieng sarcastically remarked on the U.S. justification for the operation. "That's right. Trump is stinking up the joint with freedom! Can you smell it?" he asked the audience. He mockingly suggested that America would leave Venezuela alone after the raid, which aimed to seize President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by force. "Goodbye forever, Venezuela. You're finally free!" he declared.
The segment then cut to news reports detailing the Trump administration's imposition of a military blockade on Venezuelan oil exports. The goal, as reported, was to pressure the U.S.-backed interim government to meet specific demands: partner exclusively with the United States on oil and expel officials from China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba.
Chieng drew a sharp analogy for this tactic. "I think we all know what's going on here. Ladies, when your new boyfriend forces you to cut ties with all of your friends, he's a keeper," he joked.
White House Comments Fuel 'Dictator' Jabs
The comedian's critique intensified following remarks from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to reporters on Wednesday. Leavitt stated the Trump administration had "maximum leverage" over Venezuela's interim government and claimed its leaders' decisions were "going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America."
Chieng seized on the word "dictated," questioning if Trump wanted to be the "new dictator of Venezuela." He attempted to downplay the phrasing before a visual gag undercut him. "OK, look, I know how that sounds, but just because you dictate doesn't make you a dictator, OK? Because dictators, they live in, like, a gold palace or — ah, oh, fuck!" he exclaimed as an image of Trump's gold-accented Oval Office filled the screen.
Acknowledging the Limits of Satire
In a meta-commentary on his own role, Chieng turned to Venezuelans potentially seeking advice on how to counter Trump's influence. "We have no idea," he quipped. "But I can tell you one thing that doesn't work: satire. Doesn't do shit!"
The full segment, which aired on The Daily Show, uses sharp humor to highlight the geopolitical tensions and economic motivations behind the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela, framing it as an old-fashioned resource play dressed in the language of liberation.
