Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado held her first formal press conference since fleeing her home country in December, using the opportunity to reaffirm her unwavering support for the United States.
She also outlined a vision for the future of Venezuela, where the South American country aligns closely with U.S. interests following the abduction of former President Nicolás Maduro.
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“The result of a stable transition will be a proud Venezuela that will be the best ally the United States has ever had in the Americas,” Machado said at an event on Friday.
The press conference came a day after Machado visited the White House for a brief private lunch with US President Donald Trump. The event took place on stage at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank known for releasing a policy blueprint for President Trump’s second term known as Project 2025.
Trump, like Machado, has long had a tense relationship with Maduro, a former bus driver who succeeded the late Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela in 2013.
Machado: “I’m really grateful.”
Maduro is a champion of Chávez’s socialist political movement, Chavismo, and has also faced widespread criticism for a campaign of human rights abuses, including the torture and imprisonment of political dissidents.
Since returning to office, Trump has gradually increased U.S. pressure on the Maduro regime, including through a large-scale military buildup in the Caribbean and the bombing of a suspected drug-trafficking ship leaving Venezuela.
But on January 3, President Trump’s campaign reached a climax when he launched a full-scale military assault on Caracas, resulting in President Maduro’s abduction and transfer to New York City to stand trial.
President Trump has described the military strike as a law enforcement operation, but critics charge it is a violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter.
Machado was among those who lobbied for such an intervention and used Friday’s appearance to thank President Trump for his actions.
“As Venezuelans, we are deeply grateful to President Trump, his team, his administration, and the American people, because his actions took a lot of courage,” she said.
“Yes, he did it on behalf of the American people, but also because he cares about the Venezuelan people. That’s what he told me yesterday.”
President Trump has previously said the United States intends to “run” Venezuela and that a “second wave” of military action could occur if the country’s current government does not comply with his demands.
A “complex stage” in Venezuela’s history
So far, the Trump administration has avoided discussion of restoring democracy in Venezuela and has refused to provide a timeline for new elections.
Instead, it recognized the interim government of Maduro’s former deputy, President Delcy Rodríguez, citing the need for stability in Venezuela.
Trump’s support for Rodriguez raised some eyebrows, as Maduro’s last two elections were closely contested. The most recent, the 2024 election, culminated with the government withholding vote tallies that are usually released on election night, with Maduro claiming victory as he seeks a third term.
Later, the opposition coalition led by Machado released a document that appeared to give candidate Emundo González Urrutia a landslide victory.
On stage at the Heritage Foundation, Machado reiterated his belief that he has been given the mandate of the Venezuelan people to lead the government.
“We are facing difficult times ahead. As a legitimate government, we are ready to do what is necessary,” she said.
“Edmundo González Urrutia and I have been in constant contact over the last few days and we feel a mandate from the Venezuelan people. That’s why I’m here and that’s what I conveyed to the President of the United States.”
But she seems to have softened her statements and accepted President Trump’s support for Rodriguez’s interim government.
He also described the democratic transition as a “very complex and delicate process” and said the current government would do the “dirty work” of having to “dismantle” itself.
“Delcy Rodriguez, yes, she is a communist. She is a key ally and representative of the Russian regime, China and the Iranians,” he said, citing some of Venezuela’s allies under the Maduro regime.
“But it’s not the Venezuelan people, it’s not the military. So I am deeply, deeply convinced that there will be an orderly transition. This is a complicated stage that we are in right now. Some of the dirty work is being done by them.”
Commitment to immigration and human rights
Machado, known as a staunch opponent of Maduro’s government, said the Venezuela that emerges after his ouster will be a country built on “merit,” echoing one of Trump’s frequent statements.
She also described a more affordable Venezuela, where residents do not have to live on “handouts.”
“The outcome of this process will be a society based on these values, a very pro-American society,” Machado told reporters at the Heritage Foundation.
He also cited recent steps taken by the Rodriguez administration to address human rights concerns in Venezuela and placate Mr. Trump.
On Friday, a reporter asked Machado about Venezuela’s decision to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States, where President Trump has made mass deportations of immigrants a pillar of his second term.
A plane carrying some 199 Venezuelan deportees arrived at La Guaira airport earlier in the day, marking the first flight since Maduro’s ouster. In moments of tension, President Maduro has been known to refuse such deportation flights.
“We all know how this administration has used immigration as a weapon against not just the United States but multiple countries,” Machado told reporters.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 7.9 million refugees have fled Venezuela in recent years due to repression, economic instability and other reasons.
Machado argued that restoring democracy in Venezuela would pave the way for many Venezuelan migrants to return home, thereby helping address President Trump’s concerns about immigration.
“I think it’s clearly in the best interest of the United States and people concerned about immigration to get the transition done as quickly as possible, because it means millions of people will be returning to their home countries,” Machado said.
“Not all economic problems will be solved. People will be willing to come back to be part of the solution,” she added.
Opposition leaders also denied the Rodriguez government’s announcement that it had released nearly 400 political prisoners, although human rights groups estimate the number is much lower.
“Just because I’m not in prison doesn’t mean I’m free. I’m out of prison in Venezuela, but I can’t speak to the press, I can’t leave the country, and I’m still afraid,” Machado said.
“All torture centers must be closed, and certainly there must be guarantees that journalists will speak out and those who left the country will return.”
He added that if the Rodriguez government respects Venezuela’s constitution, there will be no more political prisoners and González Urrutia will become president.
“We would not have sent the next president into exile in Madrid. He would have come to power on January 9, 2024 – unfortunately 2025,” she said. “We recognize that there is no rule of law in Venezuela.”
“Venezuela will be free”
Machado has faced criticism in the past for her embrace of far-right figures such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it remains unclear what role, if any, she will play in Venezuela’s future governance.
On January 3, the day the U.S. military operation took place, President Trump appeared dismissive of her prospects, telling reporters, “I think it would be very difficult for her to be our leader. She has no support or respect at home.”
But Machado remains popular among Venezuelan dissidents both at home and abroad, and during a visit to Washington, D.C., she was swarmed with supporters asking for hugs and selfies.
On Thursday’s visit, she attempted to curry favor with President Trump by offering him the Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in December after secretly fleeing Venezuela for fear of arrest.
On Friday, he emphasized his view that a better Venezuela can only be built with President Trump’s support.
“The only thing I want to assure the Venezuelan people is that Venezuela will be free, and that will be achieved with the support of the American people and United States President Donald Trump,” she said.
