United States President Donald Trump disclosed on Thursday that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is expected to arrive in Washington next week, a development that suggests he intends to hold talks with the Nobel Peace Prize recipient during her visit.
“I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
If the meeting takes place, it would mark the first direct engagement between Trump and Machado. The planned encounter follows closely after a dramatic operation in which US forces apprehended Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, transporting them to New York to stand trial over alleged drug trafficking and weapons-related offences.
Only a week earlier, Trump had publicly questioned Machado’s standing within Venezuela, arguing that she lacked the domestic respect and political backing required to govern the country. He has also floated the idea that the United States could exert effective control over Venezuela for an extended period.
Speaking again on Fox News on Thursday, Trump said Venezuela, now under the leadership of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, was not prepared to organise new elections in the near future.
“We have to rebuild the country. They couldn’t have an election,” he said.
“They wouldn’t even know how to have an election right now.”
Machado has previously indicated a willingness to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, who has repeatedly maintained that he deserved the prestigious recognition.
On Thursday, Trump described it as a “major embarrassment” for Norway that he had not been awarded the prize, which is decided by a Norwegian committee.
He further suggested that Machado might hand over her Nobel Peace Prize to him when they eventually meet.
“I understand she wants to do that. That would be a great honor,” Trump said.
What you should know
The anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Maria Corina Machado highlights the growing international attention on Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and the installation of an interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez.
Trump’s remarks reinforce his administration’s scepticism about Venezuela’s readiness for elections and signal continued US involvement in the country’s political future.
Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize and her openness to sharing it with Trump have also added a symbolic dimension to the unfolding diplomatic narrative, reflecting Trump’s long-standing grievances with the Nobel committee and his desire for global recognition.
