US President Donald Trump is set to host Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, amid uncertainty over her role in Venezuela’s political transition following the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Many observers had expected Machado to assume leadership after Maduro was seized by US forces in a pre-dawn operation on 3 January and transferred to a New York jail. Instead, the Trump administration has recognised Maduro’s former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, as Venezuela’s interim leader, sidelining Machado despite her international profile.
Trump has sent mixed signals about Machado’s standing, publicly questioning her domestic support, while praising Rodríguez as a partner in stabilising Venezuela and securing its oil resources. The US recently announced an agreement with interim authorities to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and placed oil revenues under US-controlled accounts.
Machado, who was barred from contesting Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election despite winning the opposition primary, has continued to position herself as the legitimate leader of a democratic transition. She has praised Trump’s actions against Maduro and insists her movement is ready to win a free election.
Rodríguez, though still under US sanctions, has moved quickly to consolidate power, releasing some political prisoners and opening talks with Washington. Human rights groups, however, say hundreds of detainees remain in custody.
Machado said she remains ready to lead Venezuela, declaring: “We are prepared to serve our people.”
