The President of the United States, Donald Trump, praised Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado this Friday and left open the possibility for her to participate in the political transition process in Venezuela following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
In statements from the White House, Trump described Machado as “an incredible woman” and acknowledged that his team is in contact with her.
“We are speaking with María, maybe we can involve her in some way. I would love to be able to do that”, the president stated when asked about the political future of the South American country.
The president's comment comes amid Washington's efforts to solidify a transitional government in Venezuela, under the provisional figure of Delcy Rodríguez, following the fall of the chavista regime and the detention of Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3.
Trump described Machado as "a very intelligent, brave person who loves her country," and recalled that "she has done incredible things under very difficult circumstances."
"Working with people like this is a pleasure," added the president, who reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Venezuela "becomes a free and prosperous nation once again."
The U.S. administration's approach to the opposition leader reflects an acknowledgment of the political weight of Vente Venezuela, the movement led by Machado, and its role in uniting the internal opposition during the years of the Chavista regime.
María Corina Machado, politically disqualified by Chavismo for more than a decade, was one of the most prominent figures of the opposition movement that denounced the regime's irregularities and demanded free elections.
After Maduro's capture, Machado has maintained a strong stance in defense of a democratic transition without the participation of the PSUV.
Sources close to the process claim that Washington is considering its possible involvement in advisory or mediation roles within the institutional reconstruction process, although its formal participation in the new provisional government has not yet been defined.
From Caracas, opposition leaders have praised the words of the U.S. president as a sign of support for Venezuela's democratic forces.
The Trump administration, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is leading the political and economic stabilization process in Venezuela following the military operation that ended Maduro's government.
Washington has reiterated that its priority is the restoration of democratic freedoms, the release of political prisoners, and the calling of internationally supervised elections.
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