Trump Plans Meeting With Venezuelan Opposition Figure Machado in Washington

United States President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to meet Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado during her expected visit to Washington next week.

Speaking in a televised interview on Thursday, Trump said Machado would be in the U.S. capital in the coming days and noted that he looked forward to seeing her. The meeting would mark their first direct engagement since Machado emerged as a central figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement.

The planned talks come shortly after U.S. forces detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, transferring them to New York to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking and arms offences. Following that operation, Washington has taken a more direct role in shaping Venezuela’s political transition.

Trump has previously questioned Machado’s level of domestic support within Venezuela and has suggested that the country is not currently capable of organising credible elections. He reiterated that view, arguing that Venezuela first requires extensive rebuilding before any electoral process can be considered.

Venezuela is presently under an interim administration led by Delcy Rodríguez, amid political uncertainty and ongoing international scrutiny. Trump also repeated claims that the United States could play a long-term stabilising role in the South American nation.

Machado, who recently received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her opposition activism, has publicly expressed admiration for Trump and indicated she would be willing to share the honour with him. Trump, who has long argued he deserved the award, described the situation as an embarrassment for the Nobel committee and said accepting such a gesture would be a significant honour.

The anticipated meeting is expected to attract global attention as Washington reassesses its strategy toward Venezuela’s future governance and international reintegration.