President Donald Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, just weeks after U.S.-backed forces captured Nicolás Maduro. Machado, whose movement won the disputed 2024 election, made the visit as the White House said Trump has not changed his view of her.
Machado visit brings mixed messages from Washington
During the White House press briefing, reporters asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether President Trump had changed his view of María Corina Machado after meeting her. Leavitt said his earlier assessment still stands and that, “at this moment in time,” he has not changed his opinion.Trump has previously said he does not believe Machado has enough support inside Venezuela to lead the country. Her political movement won the last election.
Leavitt said the president’s view is based on advice from his national security team and what they call the “realities on the ground,” making clear the meeting did not signal a policy shift. Still, Machado called the visit important and said her team “counts with President Trump for the liberation of Venezuela,” a message widely shared by her supporters.
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The meeting comes as the Trump administration is working with the current leadership in Caracas. Since Nicolás Maduro was removed, his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been acting president. Trump recently spoke with her and praised her cooperation. Leavitt said there is no timetable for new elections, though Trump hopes they will happen one day.
The wider U.S. strategy in Venezuela
The meeting between Trump and María Corina Machado came as the United States is increasing pressure on Venezuela’s oil trade and remaining power structures. On the same day, U.S. officials confirmed the seizure of another Venezuelan-linked oil tanker, the Motor Tanker Veronica. U.S. personnel boarded the ship in a dramatic operation. Helicopters took part in the mission. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of it.
U.S. officials said the tanker had passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Trump’s “quarantine” on sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. The move is part of a broader effort to control oil shipments moving in and out of Venezuela.
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Washington has made clear it wants strong influence over Venezuela’s energy future. Although the country has vast oil reserves, years of crisis have damaged its industry. Trump has been urging U.S. companies to invest billions to rebuild it, and officials have said some sanctions could be lifted to support oil sales.
This economic and security push forms the backdrop to Machado’s visit, showing how U.S. policy now mixes political and strategic goals.
Reactions and questions about leadership and elections
The meeting and White House comments have drawn mixed reactions among Venezuelans and political observers. Some analysts say that even if the administration says its view of María Corina Machado has not changed, inviting her to the White House shows she remains an important political figure.
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Speaking on ABC News, political analyst Liz Rebecca Alvarado said Machado represents “the voice of the people” who voted against the old regime. She said the visit sends a message to the current leadership in Caracas that the United States is still listening to opposition voices. At the same time, she and others pointed to the gap between what the opposition wants and what the White House is saying, especially after officials confirmed there is no timetable for elections.
Inside Venezuela, opinions about U.S. involvement are divided. Some people hope it will help bring stability and reduce foreign influence, while others worry about too much outside control. For now, the meeting appears more symbolic than political, with U.S. policy staying the same as events continue to unfold.