Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has asserted her legitimate right to govern the nation following the U.S.-orchestrated removal of President Nicolás Maduro. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate declared her readiness to lead, stating her movement possesses a popular mandate from the disputed 2024 elections.
Machado expressed profound gratitude toward U.S. President Donald Trump for demonstrating ‘leadership and courage’ in authorizing military operations that resulted in Maduro’s capture. She characterized the intervention as a pivotal advancement toward reestablishing democratic governance, prosperity, and legal order in Venezuela.
Despite her appreciation for Trump’s actions, the opposition leader faces skepticism from the White House. President Trump publicly questioned Machado’s viability as a successor, noting her apparent lack of domestic support and respect, despite acknowledging her personal qualities.
Machado simultaneously dismissed the legitimacy of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president. She accused Rodríguez of being a principal architect of state repression against Venezuelan civilians, asserting that both domestic and international observers recognize her controversial legacy.
Rodríguez, who assumed office following Maduro’s detention, has confronted these allegations while denying U.S. hegemony over Venezuelan sovereignty. In a nationally televised address, she emphasized that ‘no external agent governs Venezuela,’ directly countering claims of American control.
The political landscape remains fraught with tension as competing factions vie for authority, international forces weigh in, and the population awaits resolution to the prolonged power struggle.