Prioritize stability
Questions about Machado’s role in Venezuelan politics came within hours of a US move to oust Maduro, accused of violently suppressing dissent.
Machado, 58, had been in hiding for months after the 2024 election, fearing arrest.
But that changed in December, when she flew abroad to accept the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to advance Venezuela’s democracy.
Given her long public opposition to Maduro, Machado was seen as the favorite to replace him if his government ever fell.
But when Trump announced US military action to oust Maduro, he quickly shot down the possibility of Machado stepping into the Venezuelan presidency.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult for her to be a leader. She has no support or respect in the country,” Trump said at a news conference hours after the attack.
Instead of working with Machado, Trump announced plans to cooperate with Maduro’s vice president, Delsey Rodriguez. He has since taken oath as interim president.
“She’s essentially ready to do what we need to do to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said of Rodriguez.
Maduro, who has been accused of human rights abuses, is accused of being part of a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the United States along with his wife, Cilia Flores.
Trump’s decision to oust Maduro has sparked jubilation among exiled Venezuelans, while his military intervention – and Machado’s immediate dismissal – has raised concerns about Venezuela’s respect for sovereignty and international law.
“I think (the Trump administration) is basically betting on what they consider to be the most stable transition,” said Fredy Guevara Cortez, a former opposition member of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
“They think they can convince the same members of the Maduro regime to end themselves.”
Guevara Cortez, who has been living in exile in the United States since 2021, emphasized his support for Trump’s actions in Venezuela.
“Of course, we would have preferred something else, but we also understand how complex the situation is,” he said.