> At a Glance
> – President Trump says Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will visit the U.S. “next week”
> – Trump told Fox News he “looks forward to saying hello” to the Nobel Peace Prize winner
> – Machado’s camp and the White House have not confirmed any meeting details
> – Why it matters: The potential meeting follows the U.S. arrest of Nicolás Maduro and highlights divisions over who should lead Venezuela
President Trump revealed Thursday night that Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado is expected in the United States soon, hinting at a possible meeting that could reshape Washington’s stance on Venezuela’s political future.
Trump’s Announcement
In a taped interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said:
> “Well, I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her.”
The White House offered no immediate details on the visit. A representative for Machado also did not confirm the meeting.
Mixed Signals on Machado’s Role
Trump’s openness to meeting Machado contrasts with his recent skepticism about her leadership prospects.
Last week, the president told reporters:
> “It would be very tough for her to be the leader, because she doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more positive assessment on Sunday, calling Machado “fantastic” but citing urgent timelines:
> “Unfortunately, the vast majority of the opposition is no longer present inside of Venezuela. We have short-term things that have to be addressed right away.”
Nobel Prize Tensions
Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and has publicly stated Trump “deserved it.” The president claims she thanked him after receiving the award.
When asked if he would accept her Nobel Prize, Trump responded:
> “I’ve heard that she wants to do that. That’d be a great honor.”
Trump has long campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize and denied reports that he rejected Machado as Venezuela’s leader because she won the award.
> “She should not have won it,” he said. “But no, that has nothing to do with my decision.”
Key Takeaways
- María Corina Machado is reportedly visiting the U.S. next week
- Trump expressed interest in meeting her despite past doubts about her leadership
- The potential meeting follows the U.S. arrest of Nicolás Maduro
- Republicans in Congress have pushed for Machado to lead Venezuela
- The White House has not confirmed any official engagement
As Venezuela’s political crisis deepens, any Trump-Machado encounter could signal shifting U.S. support amid growing Republican pressure for decisive action.
