On Sunday, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed both caution and warmth regarding the return of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to her home country. Machado made her first public appearance in nearly ten months during a mass in the state of Lara.
"She is a very pleasant woman. She gave me her Nobel Prize, so what else can I say? I hope she is safe," Trump told reporters as he left the White House, according to EFE news agency.
Trump did not elaborate on the details of Machado's return, simply stating, "We are doing very well in Venezuela."
Machado's public reappearance took place at the Sanctuary of the Divine Shepherdess in Santa Rosa, where supporters from her party, Vente Venezuela, welcomed her with hugs and chants of encouragement.
Confirming her return, Machado posted a succinct message on social media platform X: "I am here. With you."
Opposition Leaders and International Dynamics
From Madrid, opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who has been in exile in Spain since September 2024, shared his excitement: "I am thrilled to announce that our leader, my dear María Corina, is on Venezuelan soil."
González also hinted at his own impending return to Venezuela, promising that the country would "truly move towards freedom."
A Complex Journey Back Home
Machado's return marks the end of a nearly ten-month absence, during which she made multiple unsuccessful attempts to re-enter the country.
She initially left Venezuela secretly between the night of December 8 and the early hours of December 9, 2025. Disguised, she traveled overland to the coast and then by boat to Curaçao to collect the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on December 11.
Since then, Machado has tried at least seven times to return without success, including three attempts on September 22, 2026, from Panama City.
The Trump-Machado Connection
The relationship between Trump and Machado strengthened on January 15, 2026, when Machado symbolically handed over her Nobel medal to the U.S. President at the White House. The Norwegian Committee clarified that this gesture did not transfer the ownership of the award.
This return occurs amid significant political changes in Venezuela. Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this year, interim President Delcy Rodríguez assumed power and endorsed a controversial oil deal with Washington, granting the Pentagon a 35% stake in NABEP, a company with rights to 17 Venezuelan oil fields.
An investigation by ABC revealed that Machado's return was facilitated by a diplomatic operation involving several countries and met no resistance from the White House. This lack of opposition was crucial in enabling her return, according to media outlets following the case.
Key Questions About María Corina Machado's Return
Why did María Corina Machado leave Venezuela initially?
María Corina Machado left Venezuela clandestinely in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.
How did the Trump administration react to Machado's return?
Donald Trump expressed hope for Machado's safety and noted a positive outlook on U.S. relations with Venezuela.
What political changes are occurring in Venezuela?
Venezuela is undergoing significant political shifts, including the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez, who has backed a controversial oil deal with the United States.