US President Trump to Meet Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado on Thursday

US President Donald Trump to Meet with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been scheduled, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. The meeting is set to take place on Thursday.

Machado had not spoken to Trump since October, according to her statement last week. In contrast, Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has assumed the role of interim president under the threat of further military attacks if her government does not submit to US demands on various issues.

The Venezuelan government announced on Monday that it had released dozens of political prisoners, some of whom were jailed during protests against President Nicolas Maduro following the disputed 2024 election. Trump expressed doubt about Machado’s ability to govern Venezuela earlier this month, stating that she lacks the necessary support within the country.

Machado met with Pope Leo XIV on Monday, where she shared her gratitude for his continued support and conveyed the strength of the Venezuelan people in their pursuit of freedom. The Pope stated that he is following developments in Venezuela with “deep concern” and emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of the Venezuelan people over other considerations.

Machado has sought to establish close ties with the Trump administration, dedicating her Nobel Peace Prize to him. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified last week that the peace prize cannot be revoked, transferred, or shared, stating that “the decision is final and stands for all time”.

Source: Al Jazeera