Trump Sidelines Machado, Backs New Venezuelan Leader

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado arrived at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado held a closed-door lunch with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, even as the administration continues to sideline her in favor of a new interim government.

After the meeting, Machado told reporters the discussion went well and that her supporters could rely on President Trump. She also noted that she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal.

The visit follows the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro during a US raid in Caracas on January 3, an event that initially raised hopes for Machado’s pro-democracy movement. However, Trump has publicly stated that Machado lacks the "support within or the respect within the country" to lead, a position the White House reaffirmed on Thursday.

Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her democratic advocacy, has maintained that Maduro’s government stole the 2024 election from her party—a claim supported by Washington.

US Shifts Support to Maduro's Former Deputy

Despite describing Machado as a "freedom fighter" and a "very nice woman," President Trump and his advisers have shown a clear preference for Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former deputy, to manage Venezuela's government operations.

Trump spoke with Rodriguez by phone for the first time on Wednesday, later calling her a "terrific person" and praising the "terrific progress" since Maduro's removal. According to Trump, their discussion covered oil, minerals, trade, and national security.

Rodriguez described the call as "productive and courteous." In a national address on Thursday, she signaled a significant shift in tone, urging cooperation with Washington. "Let us not be afraid of diplomacy" with the US, she said. In a further move, the new government has begun releasing hundreds of political prisoners.

US Seizes Oil Tankers to Control Exports

As political alignments shift, the US military is tightening its control over Venezuelan oil shipments. On Thursday, US forces seized another oil tanker, the Veronica, in the Caribbean.

The US Southern Command stated the pre-dawn raid occurred "without incident" and that the vessel was defying Trump's "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels."

This marks the sixth Venezuelan-linked tanker seized by the US since mid-December. Four of these operations took place after Maduro was removed from Caracas on January 3. The targeted ships are either under US sanctions or part of a "shadow fleet" used to move oil from sanctioned producers.

The Southern Command issued a clear directive: "The only oil leaving Venezuela will be that is coordinated properly and lawfully."

Venezuela's Oil Future Under US Influence

The tanker seizures are part of a broader US strategy to manage Venezuela’s vast oil resources. Since Rodriguez took power, Trump has announced plans to control the country's oil indefinitely and has introduced a $100 billion plan to develop its industry.

In line with US objectives, Rodriguez announced Thursday that she is submitting reforms to Venezuela's hydrocarbon law to attract foreign investment. She said the changes would open up new fields that have never seen investment or infrastructure development. Rodriguez added that revenue from oil sales would be directed toward public health and infrastructure projects.

However, the plan has met with skepticism from some industry leaders. During a recent meeting with Trump, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods described Venezuela as "uninvestable" without fundamental changes to its legal and commercial frameworks.