One day after meeting with President Donald Trump, Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado maintained that her nation is irrevocably moving toward democracy. This assertion comes even as Trump has focused his recent remarks much more on obtaining Venezuelan oil than on facilitating free elections.
During an appearance at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, Machado expressed being “profoundly confident” that Venezuela would experience a stable political shift leading to legitimate elections. She stated her trust in Trump to take the required actions to ensure this outcome.
“Venezuela is going to be free,” Machado declared, noting that this liberty would be realized “with the support of the people of the United States and President Donald Trump.” She characterized the current period as the “first steps of a true transition to democracy,” while recognizing the upcoming process would be “very complex and difficult.”
Her assuredness contrasted with the Trump Administration’s conduct in Venezuela after the operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro and extradited him to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. In the subsequent fortnight, Trump has supported former Maduro allies—headed by interim President Delcy Rodríguez—to lead Venezuela temporarily, providing scant specifics on a strategy to democratize the country. Officials from the administration have contended that Rodríguez is the soundest choice for preserving stability and guaranteeing collaboration, especially regarding securing oil resources.
“I don’t need to urge the President on specific things,” she remarked, framing their Oval Office discussion as a sharing of perspectives, not a negotiation. She said she was struck by Trump’s close attention to Venezuelan affairs and noted his concern for the populace’s welfare, including that of political detainees and their families.
Machado stated her belief that the remains of what she termed a “criminal structure,” which controlled Venezuela for years, would eventually collapse on their own, allowing democratic frameworks to be restored. Although she provided no specifics on the timing or mechanism, she said that once the transition progresses, Venezuelans could freely elect their leaders, such as governors, mayors, and National Assembly representatives.
Her remarks were made against a backdrop of evident rival efforts to gain favor with the Trump Administration. Concurrent with her White House trip, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Caracas to meet with Rodríguez, marking the highest-level known U.S. engagement since Maduro’s removal.
Machado’s campaign to secure Trump’s backing has disappointed some Venezuelans, especially after the U.S. President rejected the notion of making her the country’s leader, claiming she had inadequate immediate support. White House representatives have publicly repeated this view, despite a poll released this week by the Caracas-based firm Meganálisis indicating 78% would support Machado in a presidential vote.
Nevertheless, Machado stressed that her aim was not personal authority. “I didn’t come here to seek anything for myself,” she said.
“We have a huge task in front of us to prepare with other teams around the world and in Venezuela to take our government when the right time arrives.”
She further depicted Venezuela’s future as tightly linked to U.S. interests. She said a democratic Venezuela would emerge as one of the United States’ nearest allies in the region and a society “profoundly pro-America.”
Currently, a significant divide persists between Trump’s statements and Machado’s aspirations, as Trump continues to applaud cooperation with Rodríguez’s government on oil and security, avoiding questions about elections and emphasizing stability and economic gain instead.
Machado said she was certain these differing priorities would eventually align.
“I have no doubt that President Trump, his administration and the people of the United States support democracy, justice and freedom,” she stated. “This is a hard process. But the result will be a proud Venezuela—free, democratic and ready to move forward.”
