The U.S. Senator Rick Scott revealed this Tuesday that he held a phone call with the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, and stated in a detailed message published on X that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner "has the right attitude, the capability, and above all, the support of the people of Venezuela" to move towards elections and the establishment of a democratic and prosperous republic.
The senator from Florida, one of the leading advocates in the U.S. Congress for the Venezuelan democratic cause, emphasized that Machado is ready to return to her country "in a peaceful and constructive manner" and is willing to sit down with those currently in power, including the acting president Delcy Rodríguez, as well as with actors from the public and private sectors.
"The best thing for everyone right now is for María Corina Machado to be in Venezuela," Scott wrote. "In every state of her country and among all social groups, people are looking to her to lead and support them. They want her there to help build the future."
The senator explicitly thanked President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their efforts regarding the Venezuelan issue: "They have eliminated a threat to the United States, but they are also improving the lives of the Venezuelan people and restoring an ally." Scott also confirmed that he had spoken with the Trump administration about the possible return of Machado to the country.
The message arrives at a time of intense diplomatic activity regarding Venezuela. On September 22, Trump met in New York with Delcy Rodríguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in what was described as the first meeting between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over 11 years. Days later, Rodríguez promised at that forum that there will be elections in Venezuela, though without setting a date or timeline.
Machado has accumulated at least seven failed attempts to return to her country since December 2025. The most recent occurred on that same September 22, when Venezuela denied her entry three times while she was trying to cross from Panama. The opposition leader has spent over 18 months abroad, separated from her family and without a valid passport because Venezuelan authorities refuse to renew it.
The tone of Scott's message contrasts with that which he used just three days earlier, when he demanded guarantees for a real democratic transition and warned that "the United States knows exactly who Delcy Rodríguez is." This Tuesday, by contrast, he portrayed Machado as a figure open to dialogue, in line with the diplomatic rapprochement between Washington and Caracas.
A sign of this gradual advancement occurred on Monday when Machado's press chief, Claudia Macero, returned to Venezuela, an event that the opposition member publicly celebrated as a sign of progress.
Rubio, for his part, has conditioned Machado's return on the existence of real guarantees for his safety and has demanded prior conditions from the Chavista regime: a legitimate National Electoral Council, freedom of the press, international observation, and sufficient time for the opposition to organize.
"Her leadership will be extraordinary not only for the United States but for countries around the world. She fights for peace, prosperity, and democratic freedom. That is what the Venezuelans deserve, and I am proud to work with her," Scott concluded in his post.
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