Venezuelan opposition leader and recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado declared on Monday that she plans to return to her homeland “as soon as possible,” praising U.S. President Donald Trump for the dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro while expressing readiness for new elections.
In her first extensive public comments since Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces over the weekend, Machado appeared on Fox News and reiterated her movement’s strength, predicting an overwhelming victory—potentially over 90%—in free and fair polls. She also sharply criticized Venezuela’s interim leadership, particularly Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whom sources indicate the Trump administration is engaging as a potential transitional figure.
However, President Trump has explicitly dismissed suggestions of collaborating with Machado on Venezuela’s political future. Over the weekend, Trump stated that Machado “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country” to lead, according to multiple reports. This stance marks a setback for the opposition icon, who has been abroad in Europe since accepting her Nobel Prize in Norway last month.
The developments come amid ongoing turmoil following the U.S. military operation on January 3-4, which involved strikes on targets in Caracas and the extraction of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro, now in U.S. custody in New York, pleaded not guilty on Monday to long-standing drug-trafficking and related charges, denouncing the action as a “kidnapping.”
The operation has drawn sharp international criticism, with UN bodies and several allies condemning it as a breach of international law. An emergency UN Security Council meeting highlighted divisions, even among some U.S. partners. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has emphasized stability and economic opportunities, reportedly planning discussions with U.S. oil companies to ramp up Venezuelan production.
Machado, widely regarded as Maduro’s most formidable opponent, welcomed the U.S. intervention as a “huge step for humanity” in social media posts and interviews. She outlined visions for dismantling criminal networks tied to the former regime and transforming Venezuela into a major energy hub welcoming American investment.
Opposition figures, including aides to Machado and exiled former candidate Edmundo González, have rejected any role for Rodríguez—a Maduro loyalist—insisting on rapid elections. Calls for a democratic transition are mounting, but U.S. officials appear prioritizing order before any vote.
The situation remains highly fluid, with global reactions mixed and Maduro’s court proceedings underway. Analysts warn of potential chaos if rival factions clash over the interim period.