Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has declared that former US President Donald Trump delivered a decisive blow to Venezuela’s longstanding socialist ideology, fundamentally altering the nation’s political trajectory. In an exclusive interview with AFP in Houston, Texas, Machado characterized the Chavismo regime—which dominated Venezuelan politics for 25 years under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro—as “irreparably wounded” and in the process of being systematically dismantled.
The political transformation began in January when US military forces orchestrated the ouster of leftist leader Maduro, replacing him with former deputy Delcy Rodríguez. Despite her previous affiliation with Maduro’s administration, Rodríguez has demonstrated willingness to comply with Trump’s directives, including reopening Venezuela’s oil sector to American corporations. Her recent comprehensive reshuffle of top military leadership signals further alignment with US interests.
Machado, recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, emphasized during the CERAWeek global energy forum that these developments represent crucial steps toward political transition. “Following President Trump’s instructions, they are dismantling their own repressive and corrupt structures,” she stated, acknowledging the unusual circumstance of a regime actively participating in its own unraveling.
Regarding Venezuela’s future electoral landscape, Machado confirmed her intention to participate in upcoming presidential elections without explicitly declaring her candidacy. She expressed confidence that Venezuelans would “freely decide who they want” as their next leader, a marked contrast to her experience in the 2024 election when she was banned from running and forced into hiding following Maduro’s disputed reelection.
The opposition leader’s relationship with Trump has evolved significantly throughout her exile, which she has spent primarily in the United States. In a symbolic gesture, she presented her Nobel Prize to Trump during a White House meeting shortly after US forces captured Maduro and extradited him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Despite Trump’s earlier expressed desire to “get her involved” in Venezuela’s political process, his administration has subsequently prioritized support for Rodríguez’s interim leadership while Maduro awaits trial in a New York detention facility.