On January 15, 2026, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Donald Trump at the White House, where she presented him with her framed Nobel Peace Prize medal. Despite this symbolic gesture, Machado's position has been increasingly sidelined by Trump, who has expressed skepticism about her capabilities to lead Venezuela following the ousting of then-President Nicolás Maduro. Machado's visit to Washington marked her first public appearance since receiving the Nobel Prize in Norway the previous month, as she had been in hiding in Venezuela for 11 months.
During her visit, Machado emphasized that she presented the medal "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom," referring to Trump's efforts regarding Venezuelan affairs. Trump later confirmed on social media that Machado had left the medal with him and praised her resilience, stating, “She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much.” A photograph shared by the White House captured the moment in the Oval Office, alongside a text acknowledging Trump's decisive actions to support a free Venezuela.
However, Machado faces a complex political scenario in Venezuela, where Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former second-in-command, continues to run day-to-day government operations. Trump has questioned Machado's credibility, stating it would be "very tough for her to be the leader" and suggesting that she does not have sufficient support or respect within the country. While Machado has maintained a cautious diplomatic approach toward the Trump administration, the meeting did not yield any specific commitments regarding elections or democratic reforms in Venezuela, although White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled Machado as "a remarkable and brave voice."
After the closed-door meeting, Machado addressed a crowd of supporters outside the White House, asserting, "We can count on President Trump," which elicited shouts of gratitude from her followers. Her remarks came amid an ongoing political crisis in Venezuela, where friends and supporters of Rodríguez are still entrenched in power. In conjunction with Machado's visit, U.S. military forces in the Caribbean were active, seizing a sanctioned oil tanker connected to Venezuela, as part of broader U.S. efforts to regain control over the country's oil resources following Trump's recent military actions that led to Maduro's capture for drug trafficking charges.
Senator Chris Murphy, who met with Machado afterward, relayed her concerns about the lack of progress toward a political transition or elections in Venezuela. He noted that she characterized Rodríguez's leadership as potentially worse than Maduro's. Despite Machado's efforts to rally bipartisan support during her Washington visit, there were no assurances from the White House regarding a timeline for elections, raising concerns about the future of democratic governance in Venezuela.
Machado's journey as an opposition leader has been marked by significant challenges. Her political activism dates back to 2004, when she co-founded a nonprofit organization to promote electoral reform and hold Chávez accountable. Despite facing persecution and challenges throughout her career, her candidacy in the 2024 elections was met with accusations of electoral fraud from the ruling party, leading to widespread protests and violence against demonstrators.
In her meetings in Washington, Machado sought to leverage international support as she faces ongoing repression in Venezuela while also navigating complicated relations with the Trump administration, which has signaled inconsistent support for her leadership potential. Each of these interactions underscores the delicate balance Machado must maintain to remain relevant amidst the shifting dynamics of Venezuelan politics.
