WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday, marking their first in-person discussion since the U.S. military captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a bold raid earlier this month.
The high-profile meeting comes at a critical juncture for Venezuela. While the White House described the conversation as productive, it underscored a lingering diplomatic tension: the Trump administration has not yet fully endorsed Machado to lead the transitional government, signaling instead that the U.S. may maintain a direct hand in managing the country’s affairs for the immediate future.
A Meeting of Strategy and Symbolism
Machado, a longtime adversary of the socialist regime and a recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arrived seeking a firm commitment from the U.S. to support a democratic handover. She has long been viewed by the international community as the legitimate voice of the Venezuelan opposition, having championed the movement that eventually led to Maduro’s isolation.
During the meeting, Machado reportedly presented President Trump with her Nobel medal, a gesture Trump later acknowledged on social media as a sign of “mutual respect.” However, political analysts note that respect has not yet translated into a political mandate. Trump has publicly expressed skepticism regarding Machado’s ability to unite the fractured nation immediately, suggesting that a strong hand is needed to stabilize the country first.
Context: The Fallout of ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’
The diplomatic maneuvering follows Operation Absolute Resolve, a massive military operation executed on January 3, 2026. In a dawn raid that stunned the globe, U.S. forces, including elite Delta Force operators and over 150 aircraft, breached the presidential palace in Caracas.
The operation successfully captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were extracted from the country and are currently detained in New York, where they face federal charges related to narco-terrorism and corruption.
The Power Vacuum
In the wake of the raid, a complex power dynamic has emerged. While Maduro is gone, his former Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, remains in Caracas and was sworn in as acting president following the capture.
Surprisingly to many supporters of the opposition, the Trump administration has maintained open lines of communication with Rodríguez. President Trump has stated that the U.S. intends to oversee a “safe transition” and effectively “run” the country during this interim period to prevent civil war and secure vital infrastructure, particularly Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Why It Matters
For readers following the crisis, the key takeaway is that the removal of a dictator has not instantly resulted in a democracy.
- The Opposition: Machado and her coalition argue that recognized election results from previous years should mandate an immediate transfer of power to their party.
- The U.S. Stance: The White House is prioritizing stability over immediate democratic formalities. By engaging with remnants of the old regime like Rodríguez while hosting Machado, Trump appears to be hedging his bets to ensure order is maintained before any new elections are organized.
What Comes Next
The situation in Venezuela remains fluid. The U.S. military maintains a significant posture in the region to deter violence between regime loyalists and opposition supporters.
Observers are watching to see if the White House will eventually pivot to full support for Machado or if a burden-sharing agreement will leave the U.S. in a supervisory role over the oil-rich nation for months, or even years, to come. For now, Machado’s meeting confirms she remains a central player, though the path to her presidency is far from guaranteed.
Sources
- NBC News: Timeline of Maduro Capture
- Fox News: US Military Details Operation
- The Wall Street Journal: Inside Operation Absolute Resolve
- The New York Times: Trump and the Capture of Maduro
- BBC News: Venezuela Updates
- New York Post: How US Forces Captured Maduro
- Task & Purpose: Delta Force and Absolute Resolve
- Brookings Institution: Making Sense of the Operation
- Army Technology: Aircraft Used in Operation
- Perplexity: Trump Meets Venezuelan Opposition
