Trump Does Not Want Nobel Laureate Machado to Lead Venezuela
On January 3, U.S. President Trump indicated in a statement that he does not want Maria Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader, to be the interim leader of Venezuela, and stated that Washington is currently cooperating with the deputy of the ousted president Maduro.
Trump said at a press conference: "I think it would be very difficult for her (Machado) to become a leader. She does not have enough support domestically, nor is she respected."
According to AFP on January 3 in Caracas, Venezuela, Machado said today: "The moment of freedom has arrived in Venezuela" after the United States arrested the strongman Maduro.
After the military action by the U.S. military in the early morning in Caracas, Machado posted on social media: "The people of Venezuela, the moment of freedom has arrived!"
Since Maduro's re-election in July 2024, which was controversial, Machado has mostly been in hiding. In a statement, she said that opposition candidate Gonzalez Urrutia "must immediately exercise the presidential powers according to the constitution." The opposition claims that Gonzalez Urrutia won the presidential election.
Machado is currently abroad, and her exact location is unknown. She secretly went to Oslo last December to receive the Nobel Prize and presented the award to U.S. President Trump, while welcoming U.S. intervention in Venezuelan affairs.
Because institutions loyal to Maduro banned Machado from participating in the 2024 election, she was eventually replaced by diplomat Gonzalez Urrutia as the opposition candidate. However, Gonzalez Urrutia later fled to Spain.
Source: rfi
The U.S. Military Captured the President of Venezuela
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853326367077387/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.