The leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado, stated that she hopes to be elected president of Venezuela “at the right time”. The statement was made in an interview with Fox News after a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.
Maria Corina said that the country is going through a period of political transition. According to her, Venezuela has Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, Nicolás Maduro’s former vice president. The opponent stated that she believes that the country will once again become a nation that “will be the envy of the world”.
In the interview, Maria Corina commented on the delivery of the physical Nobel Peace Prize medal she received in 2025 to Donald Trump. She justified the gesture by stating that the former American president “freed the people of Venezuela from the dictator Nicolás Maduro”. He also said that the moment was “very emotional”.
Trump cites Iraq to justify caution with Maria Corina
Trump reacted publicly to the gesture. In a post on the social network Truth, he stated that the delivery represented a “wonderful demonstration of mutual respect”.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee reported that the prize is non-transferable. The title officially remains in the name of Maria Corina Machado, despite the medal remaining with Trump.
On Friday (16), Donald Trump explained why he does not support Maria Corina to lead Venezuela at this time. According to him, there is fear of repeating the scenario in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
“I remember Iraq, where they fired everyone — the police, the generals — and they ended up becoming the Islamic State,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House. “So I remember that.”
Trump praises Maria Corina, but is cautious about her leadership in Venezuela
Despite his caution, Trump praised the Venezuelan leader. He said he had “a great meeting” with Maria Corina and highlighted the mutual respect between them. The president explained why he accepted the medal.
“She offered it to me. I thought it was very kind. She said, ‘You ended eight wars, and no one deserves this award more than you in history,'” he said. Trump added: “I think she’s a very good woman, and we’ll talk again.”
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro in an American military operation on the 3rd, Trump stated that it would be “very difficult” for Maria Corina to assume leadership of the country now. According to him, the opponent would not have “the support or respect” needed internally.
The American president said he is in negotiations with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, whom he called a “fantastic person.”
Even so, Maria Corina reaffirmed her political project. In a new statement to Fox News, he said he sees his candidacy as part of a historic mission.
“I take on the mission of transforming Venezuela into a land of freedom. When the time is right, I will be elected president and become the first woman to lead the country,” said Corina.
