In the immediate aftermath of U.S. airstrikes in Caracas and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the long-oppressed Venezuelan opposition was initially elated.
Shifting Alliances and a Silent Opposition
“Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived,” declared María Corina Machado, leader of the Venezuelan opposition movement and the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. However, the celebratory mood was tempered when President Donald Trump expressed a lack of confidence in Machado and suggested a preference for partnering with Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez. Following Trump’s statements, official channels of the opposition largely fell silent throughout the day.
Machado had called for the immediate installation of Edmundo González Urrutia as president, with the backing of the Venezuelan military. Most Western governments recognize González as the legitimate winner of the disputed 2024 presidential elections in Venezuela. “Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power,” Machado stated, urging supporters to “remain vigilant, active, and organized until the democratic transition is achieved. A transition that needs ALL of us.”
During a press conference, Trump indicated Machado would not play a role in a post-Maduro government, stating he had not been in contact with her and, while acknowledging she was a “very nice woman,” she “does not have the support or respect within the country” to lead Venezuela.
A Pragmatic Shift in U.S. Policy?
Trump’s cool response to Machado is notable given her staunch support for the President – she even suggested in at least one interview that Maduro had “manipulated” the 2020 U.S. elections to Trump’s detriment. However, Elías Ferrer, founder and director of Orinoco Research, noted that Trump rarely mentions Machado on social media, making his apparent rejection unsurprising.
This situation echoes past U.S. involvement in Venezuela, where the United States recognized Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president, a position supported by over 60 nations, but that movement ultimately stalled. “He really supported Juan Guaidó, but it went wrong,” Ferrer said. “And then Trump took the consequences, because he was promoting this guy who turned out to be a complete failure.”
According to Ferrer, Trump’s second term appears focused on combating crime, targeting drug traffickers, and securing access to oil. “For those things, you don’t need a model democracy,” Ferrer explained. “You just need a government that is compliant in some way.” Smilde echoed this sentiment, stating that the U.S. appears to be seeking “a country that is friendly and open to U.S. interests, stable and economically productive,” and that “democracy or María Corina Machado do not even seem to be on the radar at this moment.”
“A Stable Government Will Make Venezuela Great Again”
Instead of Machado, Trump appears to be focusing on Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, a key figure in the Maduro government. Trump announced the U.S. would “govern” Venezuela until a “judicious transition,” asserting that Rodríguez was “essentially willing to do what we need to do to make Venezuela great again.”
Rodríguez, a sanctioned member of the Maduro government, has not directly acknowledged Trump’s overture, but affirmed on Saturday that Maduro remains the president of Venezuela. “We will never be a colony again,” Rodríguez stated, flanked by senior government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who was named in the same accusation against Maduro revealed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi following the U.S. strike.
One analyst questioned the logic of removing Maduro only to leave his allies in power, stating, “I don’t know how much progress we make removing Maduro but leaving them in charge, or her in charge. I don’t see that making much sense.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What was María Corina Machado’s initial reaction to Maduro’s capture?
Machado declared, “Venezolanos, la hora de la libertad ha llegado” (“Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived”), expressing optimism about a potential transition of power.
What did Donald Trump say about María Corina Machado?
Trump stated he had not been in contact with Machado and that, while she was a “very nice woman,” she “does not have the support or respect within the country” to lead Venezuela.
What is Elías Ferrer’s assessment of Trump’s current priorities in Venezuela?
Ferrer believes Trump is now more interested in combating crime, attacking drug traffickers, and securing access to oil, suggesting a shift away from prioritizing democratic ideals.
Given the apparent willingness of the U.S. to engage with figures aligned with the Maduro government, what kind of political landscape might emerge in Venezuela in the coming months?
