With hugs, words of encouragement, and a message rich in symbolism, María Corina Machado appeared on Thursday before a group of Venezuelans who were waiting for her outside the White House.
Minutes earlier, the opposition leader had held a private meeting with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a brief and unusual encounter by Washington standards, but one that had a high political and emotional impact for millions of Venezuelans both inside and outside the country, reported BBC Mundo.
“Know that we have President Trump for the freedom of Venezuela,” said Machado, visibly moved, according to a video shared on social media. The scene was simple, without protocols or lengthy speeches, but it resonated directly with a diaspora marked by exile, family separation, and hope for real change after years of authoritarianism.
Machado acknowledged that the road ahead will be difficult. He did not hide it. But he insisted that, despite the obstacles, “great victories” have already been achieved and that the process Venezuela is experiencing is historic.
In his message, he emphasized once again the desire for families to be reunited, for Venezuelans to regain their dignity, justice, and the ability to decide their future freely.
After her time at the White House, the opposition leader moved to the Capitol, where she met with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators. There, she reiterated that in Venezuela, not a single institution remains truly standing and that the rebuilding of the country depends on restoring the rule of law, ensuring human rights, freedom of expression, and an authentic electoral process.
During those exchanges, Machado emphasized that Venezuela has an elected president and expressed his pride in working alongside him, making a direct reference to the democratic legitimacy that, in his view, remains hijacked by those in power.
He also assured that Trump is well aware of the reality in Venezuela and expressed concern about the situation of children who do not attend school, teachers who survive on symbolic salaries, and the social deterioration that drives millions to emigrate.
According to reports later, the U.S. president expressed his commitment to the release of political prisoners and to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. Machado even presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal that he received in December, as a gesture of recognition for his support of the Venezuelan cause, although the Nobel Committee later clarified that the award is not transferable.
Machado's visit to Washington takes place in a particularly tense and complex context. Just two weeks earlier, an operation authorized by Trump led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States, leaving Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president in a transitional phase that Washington claims to be leading.
While Trump is engaged in direct negotiations with Rodríguez, he has also made it clear that, although he recognizes Machado's symbolic value, he does not believe he has enough support to take power at this moment.
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