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White House confirms Trump-Machado meeting
US President Donald Trump is set to meet Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, the administration confirmed. The encounter follows the recent US-backed ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
Leadership standoff persists
Despite Machado's claims of victory in Venezuela's disputed 2024 elections, the Trump administration has declined to recognize her as the country's leader. Instead, Washington has thrown its support behind Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president, who now serves as interim president.
Trump has repeatedly questioned Machado's domestic support, calling her a "very nice woman" but asserting she lacks "respect within the country." The president's stance contrasts with Machado's own ambitions, as she has insisted her coalition should govern Venezuela.
Nobel Prize gesture sparks controversy
Machado announced last week that she intended to personally thank Trump for Maduro's removal and even offer him her Nobel Peace Prize-a gesture Trump called "a great honour." However, the Nobel Committee swiftly clarified that the prize is non-transferable.
The proposal drew mixed reactions, particularly as Trump had previously criticized Machado for accepting the award, which he has long sought himself. When asked whether the gesture might shift his view of her role, Trump remained noncommittal: "She might be involved in some aspect of it. I will have to speak to her."
US backs Rodríguez despite opposition criticism
The White House has defended its support for Rodríguez, describing her as a cooperative ally. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that Rodríguez and her team "have been very cooperative with the United States." No US charges have been filed against her.
Machado, however, has dismissed Rodríguez as untrustworthy, accusing her of being "one of the main architects of repression" in Venezuela. In an interview with CBS, Machado argued that Rodríguez's role in Maduro's government disqualified her from leading the country's transition.
"Everybody in Venezuela and abroad knows perfectly who she is and the role she has played."
María Corina Machado
Divergent visions for Venezuela's future
Machado has framed the US military intervention as a pivotal moment for Venezuela, calling it "a major step towards restoring prosperity, rule of law, and democracy." Meanwhile, Rodríguez has rejected claims of foreign control, asserting in a televised address that "the Venezuelan government rules our country, and no one else does."
The Thursday meeting between Trump and Machado could clarify Washington's stance on Venezuela's leadership-but the deep divisions within the country remain unresolved.
