Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has declared her intention to assume the presidency “when the right time comes,” positioning herself as the potential first female leader of the nation. During her Washington visit, Machado presented former President Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, characterizing the gesture as acknowledgment of his dedication to Venezuelan liberation.
This political theater unfolds against the backdrop of extraordinary developments: the U.S. apprehended sitting President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3rd, transporting him to New York to confront multiple narcotics and weapons trafficking indictments.
Despite these dramatic events, Trump has refrained from endorsing Machado as Venezuela’s successor leadership, citing insufficient domestic backing—even as her opposition coalition asserts victory in the heavily disputed 2024 elections. Instead, U.S. engagement has focused on interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president.
Machado’s Capitol Hill appearances were met with fervent support from chanting admirers waving Venezuelan flags, though their cries of “María, presidente” occasionally overwhelmed her remarks to journalists.
Concurrently, Rodríguez conducted a significant two-hour meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Trump’s behest, described by U.S. officials as confidence-building diplomacy. The discussions reportedly addressed potential economic cooperation and reiterated that Venezuela must cease being a sanctuary for American adversaries.
In her inaugural state of the union address, Rodríguez asserted Venezuela’s readiness to engage the U.S. through political dialogue while defending national “dignity and honor.” She simultaneously announced oil sector reforms inviting greater foreign investment—a notable departure from Maduro’s economic policies. Trump subsequently praised Rodríguez as a “terrific person” following their telephone discussion, which the interim leader characterized as productive and respectful.