Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greets supporters after returning to Venezuela
:: Machado spent nearly a year away following several failed attempts to re-enter the country
:: US officials asked her at least once to delay her return
:: Barquisimeto, Venezuela
RESIDENT, LILIANA YEPEZ: “It’s a truly uncontrollable emotion, seeing people cry, seeing people laugh. Yeah, well, that’s great. With this rain, these blessings from heaven, this is a sign that great changes and hope are coming for our country. We want to be certain that Venezuela will finally be free and that we will soon be reborn like the Phoenix.”
:: Machado’s team did not disclose details on how she returned
The issue of her return has strained her relationship with the US Trump administration, which she has sought to cultivate as an ally since before it removed President Nicolas Maduro from power in January.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed support for interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, and hailed deals on oil production and other business ventures by US companies in the South American country. Trump said in September it is too soon to consider democratic elections in Venezuela.
Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Trump said he did not know anything about Machado’s return to Venezuela and suggested that the US would continue to back Rodriguez.
Neither the White House nor the Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles all press queries for the government, immediately responded to requests for comment on Machado’s return.
Machado was barred by Maduro’s government from exiting Venezuela but she secretly left in late 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, after spending more than a year living mostly in hiding.
Her desire to return had caused friction in Washington, with US officials asking her to delay her trip, Reuters reported in June.
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