Trump to Meet Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Next Week

Machado to Visit the U.S., Focus on Transition Talks

Maria Corina Machado, who won last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, is set to visit the United States next week to meet President Donald Trump. Attention is focused on how the meeting could shape the political outlook, as the Trump administration has chosen a top ally of former President Nicolás Maduro—rather than Machado—as head of Venezuela’s interim government.

In an interview with Fox News on the 8th (local time), Trump said, “I heard Machado will be visiting the U.S. next week, and I’m looking forward to meeting her.” He added it was a “great honor” after Machado said she wanted to share the Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, who he said led efforts to arrest former President Maduro.

This will be the first meeting between Trump and Machado. As recently as the 3rd, Trump dismissed her, saying she is “not respected in Venezuela” and that it would be “very difficult” for her to become a leader. On the same day, he also said Venezuela’s interim government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez—an ally of former President Maduro—was providing everything the U.S. needs, and that U.S. involvement in Venezuela would continue for years to come.

Venezuela’s opposition has been increasingly disappointed that Trump has not backed Machado or Edmundo González, a 2024 presidential candidate, after Maduro’s ouster. Machado said on the 6th that she would return to Venezuela as soon as possible and argued the country should hold a presidential election, but Trump said there would be no election in Venezuela over the next month.

Trump denied claims that he did not choose Machado as Venezuela’s leader because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize he had coveted. “I don’t think Machado deserves the Nobel, but it has nothing to do with my decision about Venezuela’s leadership,” he said.

Machado fled Venezuela last month with U.S. assistance and has been staying abroad. She was selected as the opposition’s unity candidate ahead of Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election but was barred from running by the Maduro government. According to the Venezuelan opposition, Edmundo González, whom Machado backed, in fact received more votes than former President Maduro in the 2024 election.

Venezuela on the same day released seven political prisoners, including opposition figures who had criticized the Maduro government. The opposition says more than 100 opposition members and more than 20 journalists remain detained.

Jang Ji-min, contributing reporter for Hankyung.com newsinfo@hankyung.com