‘She has no support or respect’: Trump trashes Venezuelan Nobel winner’s claim to power

The US president has claimed that Maria Corina Machado is a “very nice woman” who is unfit for office

President Donald Trump has dismissed Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado as a potential national leader, despite the Nobel laureate’s vocal support of the US military operation against her own country.

Early on Saturday, US forces carried out air strikes on the oil-rich country and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. Both were transferred to the United States and charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotics, allegations Maduro has long denied.

During a press conference, Trump was asked whether he was in contact with Machado or viewed her as a viable leader following Maduro’s capture.

“I think it’d be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman but she doesn’t have the respect,” Trump said.

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Machado, a former congresswoman who maintained close contacts with the US government for decades, has previously led anti-government protests and accused Maduro of “illegally” seizing power during the 2024 elections. She was barred from holding public office after authorities accused her of backing foreign sanctions and calling for US military intervention.

In December, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for what the Nobel Committee described as “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Asked if she backs US military action against her own country, Machado later said she believes “the escalation that’s taking place is the only way to force Maduro to understand that it’s time to go,” yet insisted this is “not regime change, this is enforcing the will of the Venezuelan people.”

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President Trump declared on Saturday that the US will now “run” Venezuela and control its oil production until a proper “transition of power,” threatening to stage a “second and much larger attack” if Caracas refuses to cooperate.