Venezuelan Leader María Corina Machado Promises Return Home

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has announced her intention to return to Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. authorities. Machado, who had been in hiding for several months, expressed her plans during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, stating, “Well, first of all, I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible.”

Machado, who recently won a primary election against Maduro in early 2024, was subsequently barred from participating in the general presidential election. This restriction forced her to leave Venezuela clandestinely last month to receive the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, recognizing her efforts against the Maduro regime. Upon receiving the award on October 10, 2023, she dedicated it to former U.S. President Donald Trump, noting his role in bringing Maduro to justice.

“I would certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we, the Venezuelan people — because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him,” Machado said during her interview. She characterized Maduro’s capture as a significant milestone not only for Venezuela but for global freedom and human dignity.

In her remarks, Machado emphasized, “Let me be very clear, as soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to Trump because I knew at that point he deserved it.” She acknowledged the skepticism surrounding the feasibility of Trump’s actions, stating, “A lot of people, most people said it was impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, January 3rd. And so, I believe he deserved it.”

Despite Machado’s backing, Trump declined to appoint her as the leader of Venezuela, citing a lack of necessary support within the country. “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” Trump remarked during a news conference. He described Machado as a “very nice woman” but maintained that she did not command the respect required for leadership.

Instead, Trump indicated that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would be tasked with leading the country. He cautioned Rodríguez that she could face harsher consequences than Maduro if she failed to adhere to the plans laid out by his administration.

As the political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve, Machado’s commitment to return home and her public support for Trump highlights the complex interplay between international politics and local governance. The developments surrounding her potential return and the future of Venezuela remain closely watched.

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