VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro warned citizens not to trust “the gringo empire” as tens of thousands poured onto the streets of Caracas to defend the socialist Bolivarian government from a US-led coup.

The democratically elected leader addressed crowds from the Miraflores palace after cutting all diplomatic ties with Washington following its official recognition of right-wing usurper Juan Guaido’s claim to be the country’s interim president.

Mr Guaido’s illegal declaration was immediately recognised by US President Donald Trump along with the undemocratic European Union and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the darling of the liberals worldwide.