Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado will meet President Donald Trump on Thursday, the White House has confirmed.
The visit comes just weeks after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seized in Caracas by US forces. However, Trump declined to endorse Machado, whose movement claimed victory in 2024's widely contested elections, as its new leader.
The US instead backed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president.
Machado said last week she hoped to thank Trump personally for the action against Maduro and stated her desire to give the Nobel Prize to him. Trump called this a great honour, but the Nobel Committee clarified that it was not transferable.
Previously, Trump expressed dissatisfaction over Machado's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, an honour he had long coveted.
When questioned if receiving Machado's prize might change his view of her role in Venezuela, Trump replied, She might be involved in some aspect of it. He acknowledged he would need to discuss it with her and mentioned his understanding of her visit's purpose.
Following Maduro's ouster, Trump stated that Machado doesn't have the support within, or the respect within, the country but noted that she was a very nice woman. He had previously backed Delcy Rodríguez, characterizing her as an ally and emphasizing her cooperation with the US.
Machado, however, insists that her coalition should absolutely govern Venezuela, accusing Rodríguez of being a key figure in the oppression of innocent people. She described the US military action as a vital step towards restoring democracy in Venezuela.
Rodríguez rebuffed Trump’s assertion of U.S. control over Venezuela, claiming in a televised speech, The Venezuelan government rules our country, and no one else does.
