Did a 2007 political cartoon quietly signal the US action in Venezuela? Why the image is going viral after Maduro’s arrest

A political cartoon that dates back nearly two decades has surprisingly been thrust back into the spotlight following its apparent prediction of a recent military action by the United States in Venezuela. Circulating rapidly on social media following the extractions of President Maduro, the political cartoon has sparked debate not only about prediction but also about its own role in seemingly reflecting patterns in global politics that exist today. The United States began its operation only months ago, but a graphic prediction of events seems to have given way to a symbolic interpretation of one of the greatest events in modern geopolitics that continues to transpire in Venezuela.The cartoon at the root of the scandal was created in 2007 by Brazilian political cartoonist and critic of Western foreign policy, Carlos Latuff. As per the tweet posted by Carlos Latuff (X), claims the 2007 cartoon, called Crimes in Progress, portrays Uncle Sam in the White House, taking calls on the phone of past invasion victims of the USA. It has a box called 'To Do' alongside, listing the names of Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Following the US intervention in Venezuela, the cartoon was re-posted by Latuff, who received more than fifty thousand hits in a short time. The reappearance of the cartoon comes from its perceived linkage to Venezuela before the country’s current problems. The image appears remarkably prescient in the minds of some web observers, implying a prediction of Venezuela’s potential vulnerability to US interference. Some simply see the image in the cartoon as a predictive portrayal of what would befall the nation in 2013, in what some are labelling a coup d'état or US interference in Venezuela’s affairs.On January 3, 2026, the United States began a military intervention in Venezuela called “Absolute Resolve”. The overnight mission by US Special Forces resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to US government sources. The mission caused a temporary blackout in some parts of Caracas. US President Donald Trump eventually announced that the United States would guide Venezuela through a transition period to avoid further turmoil.News organisations immediately following the raid reported that an airplane carrying President Nicolás Maduro, as well as his wife, Cilia Flores, had arrived at Stewart International Airport in upstate New York. There had been footage circulating of US representatives boarding the aircraft once it had landed. All the major television channels had identified the president as the person who had exited the airplane, thereby verifying that he had indeed been taken into custody.Whether the cartoon of 2007 was actually foretelling present-day events or was just voicing long-held concerns is clearly up to interpretation. Political cartoons will often point to trends rather than specific outcomes. Indeed, the cartoon has proved significant simply because it corresponds to an extreme occurrence in the world of politics, capturing public anxiety, symbolism, satire, and shifting political realities.