Venezuela’s Machado Meets Trump at White House on Thursday

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's leading opposition figure, will sit down with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The meeting highlights her push for support against President Nicolas Maduro's government, and she has offered Trump her Nobel Prize medal as a gesture.

Background

Venezuela has faced deep political and economic troubles for years. Nicolas Maduro has held power since 2013, but many at home and abroad say his elections were not fair. Opposition groups have challenged him repeatedly, often facing arrests and blocks on their candidates.

Maria Corina Machado rose as a strong voice against Maduro. She won a primary vote among opposition supporters in 2023, but authorities barred her from running in the 2024 presidential election. She backed Edmundo Gonzalez as her stand-in, who many say won that vote based on tally sheets from polling places. Maduro claimed victory anyway, and Gonzalez now lives in Spain.

The US has long backed Venezuela's opposition. Back in 2019, the Trump administration called Juan Guaido Venezuela's rightful president. Trump invited Guaido to his State of the Union speech that year. There, Trump praised Guaido in front of Congress.

"Mr. President, please take this message back to your homeland. All Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom."

• President Donald Trump to Juan Guaido, 2020 State of the Union

That support included tough sanctions on Maduro's government and oil exports. Other countries in Europe and Latin America also recognized Guaido for a time. But Maduro stayed in control with help from Russia, China, and Cuba. Over time, the focus shifted to Machado as the opposition's main leader.

Machado has traveled widely to build international backing. She met leaders in Europe and Latin America, pressing for more pressure on Maduro. Her offer of the Nobel Prize to Trump ties into this effort. She won the prize for her work on democracy, though details on the award's timing are not public. This move aims to draw attention to Venezuela's crisis.

Key Details

The White House meeting is set for Thursday afternoon. Machado arrives from a series of talks in Europe. Sources close to her campaign say the agenda covers sanctions, aid for Venezuelans, and steps to hold new elections.

Past US-Venezuela Ties

Trump's first term set the tone for US policy. His team saw Maduro as a dictator propped up by foreign powers. They froze Venezuelan assets and blocked oil sales. This hit Maduro's funding hard, but also worsened shortages of food and medicine for ordinary people.

Guaido's moment peaked in early 2019. He declared himself acting president under Venezuela's constitution. Crowds filled streets in support. Trump hosted him at events and pushed allies to follow suit. But military loyalty to Maduro held firm, and Guaido's influence faded by 2022.

Now, with Trump back in office, old patterns may return. Recent reports say Trump discussed strong options against Maduro in past meetings, including with defense officials. Details remain unconfirmed, but they show the intensity of those talks.

Machado's team prepared for this trip carefully. She met Brazilian and Argentine leaders last week. They pledged diplomatic support but stopped short of full recognition of her coalition. In the US, lawmakers from both parties back more action on Venezuela.

The Nobel offer adds a personal touch. Machado received the medal for her non-stop fight for free elections. Handing it to Trump signals trust in his leadership. White House aides confirmed the meeting but gave no readout yet.

What This Means

This meeting could restart US pressure on Maduro. Trump might tighten sanctions or push for asset freezes. Venezuela's economy struggles with hyperinflation and blackouts. Oil production, once a mainstay, has dropped sharply.

For Machado, the trip boosts her profile. She leads polls among opposition voters, but Maduro's forces limit her moves inside Venezuela. A stronger US stance might encourage other countries to act. Brazil and Colombia have hosted talks before, but progress stalled.

Ordinary Venezuelans watch closely. Over seven million have fled since 2014. Those who stay face long lines for basics. Maduro blames US sanctions, while critics point to corruption and mismanagement.

Trump's approach may differ from the prior administration. He focused on quick wins with Guaido. Now, with Machado, the goal might be elections under international watch. Her coalition gathered proof from 2024 voting stations, showing Gonzalez ahead by a wide margin.

Regional effects loom large. Maduro's allies worry about isolation. Russia sends troops and loans; China buys oil despite sanctions. A Trump-Machado deal could shift balances.

Lawmakers in Washington plan hearings soon. They want updates on human rights abuses, like arrests of opposition members. Machado's visit gives them fresh material.

Aid groups call for focus on people, not just politics. Food programs reach border areas, but funds run low. Any new US plan might include humanitarian relief tied to political steps.

The meeting sets a tone for 2026. Venezuela's next big vote is not until 2028, but pressure builds now. Machado returns home with whatever promises she gets. Maduro's government dismissed the trip as meddling.

US voters hear less about Venezuela lately. Trump's base recalls his tough talk on socialism. This could remind them of his record.