> At a Glance
> – President Trump expects María Corina Machado in the U.S. next week
> – Meeting follows U.S. arrest and extraction of Nicolás Maduro
> – Why it matters: The visit could shape Washington’s stance on Venezuela’s next government
President Trump told Fox News he anticipates greeting Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado during her upcoming U.S. visit, days after American authorities removed Nicolás Maduro from power.
The Anticipated Meeting
Trump revealed the potential encounter in a Thursday-night interview with Sean Hannity. “I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her,” he said. Neither Machado’s camp nor the White House has confirmed details.
Political Crosscurrents
The outreach follows a sharp split inside the GOP about Machado’s future:
- Several congressional Republicans back her as Venezuela’s next leader
- Trump told reporters last week she lacks “the support within or the respect within the country”
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised her as “fantastic” but said the crisis demands other leadership
Rubio noted that “the vast majority of the opposition is no longer present inside of Venezuela” and warned that immediate issues “have to be addressed right away.”
Nobel Prize Spotlight
Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and publicly thanked Trump afterward. Asked if he would accept the award if she offered it, Trump replied, “I’ve heard that she wants to do that. That’d be a great honor.”
Trump previously dismissed the notion that her Nobel win influenced his decision not to install her as interim president, saying, “She should not have won it … but no, that has nothing to do with my decision.”
Key Takeaways
- Meeting scheduled as Washington recalibrates Venezuela policy
- GOP leaders split on whether Machado can unify the country
- Nobel Prize adds symbolic weight to her stateside visit
The visit places both Trump and Machado at the center of a high-stakes debate over who will guide Venezuela’s political transition.
