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The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is facing challenges in maintaining her political influence in Washington amid changes in President Donald Trump's strategy towards Venezuela, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the American newspaper, Machado has intensified his efforts to maintain visibility and international support while trying to establish himself as a key figure in the political future of the South American country.
The report indicates that, in recent months, the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela has evolved, prioritizing a broader strategy for political transition and institutional stability following the actual decline of chavismo's power.
"Now, as the Venezuelan opposition leader prepares to return to her country, she will find a very different Venezuela. Maduro is no longer in power, but President Donald Trump is now working closely with the remnants of his regime," the text states.
In that context, the figure of Machado—who has for years been one of the most outspoken critics of the Chavista regime—would be generating anxiety and frustration within Trump's inner circle, which accuses her of "putting her own interests above those of the president."
The Venezuelan opposition leader faces the challenge of maintaining prominence in an increasingly complex political landscape with new actors, the newspaper notes.
The report explains that the opposition leader has been in contact with international allies and has sought to strengthen her presence in political circles in Washington to continue influencing the debate on the future of Venezuela.
However, analysts quoted by the newspaper indicate that the Venezuelan political landscape is going through a phase of redefining, in which various sectors of the opposition and international actors are attempting to shape the path towards a possible transition process.
"Machado appears to play no role in the current calculations of the Trump administration, despite having spent the last two months in Washington making efforts to promote a democratic transition. Instead, the figure many consider the face of Venezuela's legitimate government has become a spectator to Trump's rapprochement with Maduro's former right-hand woman, Delcy Rodríguez, whom he has recognized as president of Venezuela," details WSJ.
Machado continues to uphold a firm stance against the legacy of chavismo and has emphasized the need for profound changes in the Venezuelan political system.
The analysis from The Wall Street Journal indicates that, amidst this scenario, the leader seeks to avoid being sidelined while the opposition leadership and the international strategy towards Venezuela are being reconfigured.
Despite this analysis, on Saturday, President Donald Trump had an unexpected moment when he called Machado during a private dinner held at his Trump National Doral complex in Miami, just a few hours after concluding a regional summit convened by the White House.
"Everyone loves you here," he told her during the conversation.
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