Prioritize stability
Questions about Machado’s role in Venezuelan politics emerged within hours of the U.S. operation to remove Maduro, a leader accused of violently suppressing opposition.
Machado, 58, lived in hiding for months after the 2024 election, fearing arrest.
But that all changed in December when she fled abroad to receive the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her work advancing democracy in Venezuela.
Given the longstanding public opposition to Maduro, Machado was widely seen as a possible successor if the government collapsed.
However, when President Trump announced a U.S. military operation to remove Maduro, he quickly eliminated any possibility of Machado becoming president of Venezuela.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult for her to be a leader. She’s not supported or respected in the country,” Trump said at a news conference hours after the attack.
Rather than working with Machado, Trump announced plans to work with Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez. She then became interim president.
“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said of Rodriguez.
Maduro, who has long been accused of human rights abuses, was indicted along with his wife, Cilia Flores, for participating in a conspiracy to traffic drugs to the United States.
President Trump’s decision to overthrow Maduro sparked jubilation among exiled Venezuelans, but his military intervention and swift removal of Machado have raised concerns about Venezuela’s sovereignty and respect for international law.
“I think [the Trump administration] We are basically betting on what we consider to be the most stable transition possible,” said Freddy Guevara Cortés, a former opposition member of Venezuela’s parliament.
“They think they can convince the same members of the Maduro regime to dismantle themselves.”
Guevera Cortés, who has been living in exile in the United States since 2021, emphasized that he supports President Trump’s actions in Venezuela.
“Obviously we would have liked things to be different, but we also understand how complex the situation is,” he said.
