Venezuela's Machado Touts Support from Trump Amid Ongoing Power Struggle
In a surprising move, María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who has been vocal about her criticism of Venezuela's government, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The visit was seen as a significant development in the ongoing power struggle between Machado and the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
Despite having dismissed Machado's credibility to take over after an audacious U.S. military raid captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, Trump appeared to have offered her his support in her quest for leadership. Speaking to dozens of cheering supporters waiting outside the White House gates, Machado declared, "We can count on President Trump," which sparked brief chants of "Thank you, Trump."
The meeting comes at a time when Trump has signaled his willingness to work with Rodríguez's government, which is seen as a more pragmatic approach compared to Machado's long-standing resistance. The two have reportedly had a positive conversation, with Trump stating that they are getting along well.
However, it remains to be seen whether this newfound support from Trump will translate into concrete action. Machado has faced repeated skepticism from the administration, with Trump having previously expressed doubts about her ability to lead Venezuela due to her lack of domestic support.
The situation in Venezuela is increasingly complex, with Rodríguez's government facing criticism for its handling of key issues such as the economy and human rights. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, played down expectations, stating that Machado did not have a "realistic assessment" of Trump's opinion on her candidacy.
Machado's visit to Washington comes amid a broader U.S. effort to exert control over Venezuela's oil sector, which has been a key factor in the country's economic crisis. The administration has taken steps to seize sanctioned oil tankers with ties to Venezuela, further straining relations between the two countries.
It remains to be seen how this development will play out, but one thing is certain: the power struggle in Venezuela continues to unfold, with Machado and Rodríguez locked in a tense battle for control of the country's future.
In a surprising move, María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who has been vocal about her criticism of Venezuela's government, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The visit was seen as a significant development in the ongoing power struggle between Machado and the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
Despite having dismissed Machado's credibility to take over after an audacious U.S. military raid captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, Trump appeared to have offered her his support in her quest for leadership. Speaking to dozens of cheering supporters waiting outside the White House gates, Machado declared, "We can count on President Trump," which sparked brief chants of "Thank you, Trump."
The meeting comes at a time when Trump has signaled his willingness to work with Rodríguez's government, which is seen as a more pragmatic approach compared to Machado's long-standing resistance. The two have reportedly had a positive conversation, with Trump stating that they are getting along well.
However, it remains to be seen whether this newfound support from Trump will translate into concrete action. Machado has faced repeated skepticism from the administration, with Trump having previously expressed doubts about her ability to lead Venezuela due to her lack of domestic support.
The situation in Venezuela is increasingly complex, with Rodríguez's government facing criticism for its handling of key issues such as the economy and human rights. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, played down expectations, stating that Machado did not have a "realistic assessment" of Trump's opinion on her candidacy.
Machado's visit to Washington comes amid a broader U.S. effort to exert control over Venezuela's oil sector, which has been a key factor in the country's economic crisis. The administration has taken steps to seize sanctioned oil tankers with ties to Venezuela, further straining relations between the two countries.
It remains to be seen how this development will play out, but one thing is certain: the power struggle in Venezuela continues to unfold, with Machado and Rodríguez locked in a tense battle for control of the country's future.
think machado's gotta do some serious thinking about what she wants & what trump's got up his sleeve... seems like he's playing both sides here 
Trump's been all over the place on venezuela, it's hard to trust him. but at the same time, machado needs all the help she can get if she wants to take down Rodríguez... wonder how this is gonna play out in the end...
but let's look at some stats on venezuela's economy crisis 
but machado thinks trump will help her lead? 
maybe she should focus on solving the economy crisis before asking for foreign support 
pretty low considering he met with machado and all 
. What's really going on here is Machado trying to play both sides against each other. She thinks she can get Trump's support and then use it to take down Rodríguez's government. Meanwhile, Rodríguez is just being the " pragmatic" leader that Trump wants her to be... I mean, what a coincidence? 
. I'm not saying Machado is bad or anything, but she's definitely playing with fire if she thinks Trump will just hand her the power throne. We'll see how this plays out, but mark my words: there's more to it than meets the eye 
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. The US has always been concerned about Maduro's authoritarian regime, so maybe they're hoping Machado can bring some reform 
. But let's be real, Venezuela is super complicated 
. With all the issues with the economy and human rights, it's hard to see how Trump's support will make a real difference 
? This situation is getting more interesting by the day... 
. Anyway, here are some stats on the current situation:
I'm seeing a lot of uncertainty around Machado's leadership right now. Trump saying he supports her doesn't necessarily mean much since she was already getting roasted by the administration before this meeting 
anyway, machado must be super happy to have a 'friend' in trump, can't wait to see what 'help' that means for venezuela 
. For me, it's all about finding someone who can stabilize the country and address the economic crisis... we've seen too many uprisings and failed attempts to do so in Venezuela 