Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reaffirmed her ambition to lead her country, insisting she will become Venezuela’s president “when the time is right”, following her high‑profile visit to the United States and a private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Machado’s comments came during an interview on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends”, where she said she believes she will be elected as Venezuela’s first woman president once conditions for a democratic transition are established.
“I believe I will be elected when the right time comes, as president of Venezuela — the first woman president,” Machado said, expressing confidence in her country’s future leadership.
Meeting with Trump and Nobel Gesture
The remarks followed Machado’s meeting with President Trump on January 15, during which she presented him with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal in a symbolic gesture recognizing his role in recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela’s political crisis.
Trump acknowledged the gesture on social media and confirmed he would retain the medal, describing the interaction as a positive encounter.
However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that Nobel Peace Prizes cannot be transferred or shared, and that Machado remains the official laureate.
U.S. Focus and Interim Leadership
Although Machado seeks a leadership role, the Trump administration has largely supported Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in after U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Rodríguez has been engaged in diplomatic discussions with U.S. officials, including a recent two‑hour meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas, aimed at building cooperation and stability.
Machado’s visit to Washington also included meetings with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, where she emphasized the need for democratic reforms, respect for human rights, and early elections in Venezuela.
Political Context and Challenges
Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her long‑standing advocacy of democracy and human rights, has been sidelined politically by events since Maduro’s ouster. Trump has publicly questioned her level of domestic support, instead signaling support for Rodríguez’s transitional leadership.
In interviews following Maduro’s removal, Trump said Machado did “not have the respect” within Venezuela necessary to govern, contributing to the administration’s cautious approach to backing her as future leader.
Despite this, Machado remains a symbolic figure for many Venezuelans seeking change and has repeatedly pledged to return home to help steer the country toward free and fair elections once transition conditions are met.
