Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to return home “as soon as possible,” praising U.S. President Donald Trump for the capture of her longtime rival, Nicolas Maduro, and declaring her movement ready to win free elections.
“I am planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,” said Machado, 58, a lawyer and mother-of-three, who fled the country in disguise last October to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump.
In an interview with Fox News, Machado said her movement remained committed to a democratic transition, claiming that in a free and fair election, they could secure over 90% of the vote. She described the 2024 election as “won by a landslide under fraudulent conditions.”
Machado has not communicated with Trump since October, and the U.S. administration has given little indication of backing her, instead signalling a willingness to work with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a close Maduro ally. Machado criticised Rodriguez as a figure tied to corruption, human rights abuses, and alliances with Russia, China, and Iran.
Trump has stated that Venezuela must be stabilised before any new elections, calling a 30-day timeline for voting unrealistic. Despite this, Machado praised Trump’s actions, describing the U.S. raid that led to Maduro’s capture as a historic victory for justice and a step toward democratic transition.
Machado said the United States’ support could help Venezuela regain stability, restore rule of law, attract foreign investment, and leverage its vast oil reserves, positioning the country as a leading energy hub in the Americas.
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Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been taken into U.S. custody in New York, pleading not guilty to charges including narcotics trafficking, narco-terrorism, and possession of firearms and destructive devices. Their next court appearance is scheduled for 17 March.
Back in Venezuela, authorities under interim President Rodriguez have sought to maintain control, ordering the arrest of anyone linked to Maduro’s capture. Security forces briefly detained 14 media workers covering events in Caracas, and police fired warning shots into the night sky to deter unauthorised drones.
The capture of Maduro marks the most significant U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama and has drawn criticism from Russia, China, and Venezuela’s leftist allies. Trump has stated that the U.S. will assist in reviving Venezuela’s oil industry through private-sector partnerships.
Despite the uncertainties, Machado expressed determination to return home and lead Venezuela toward a free election, framing the current moment as a historic opportunity for democratic transition and national renewal.
