Trump Administration Allegedly Blocked Machado's Return to Venezuela Post-Earthquakes

The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly pressured Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, preventing her return to Venezuela following devastating earthquakes, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that a private jet carrying Machado from the U.S. to Curaçao was forced to turn back last week. U.S. officials reportedly concluded that Machado intended to cross into Venezuelan territory, reversing her departure from Venezuela in December.

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the activist planned to cross into Venezuelan territory in a reverse route to her escape in December.

Machado had reportedly been preparing for months to reignite pressure for new elections in Venezuela. The report suggests that intermediaries close to the White House conveyed a warning to Machado: proceeding with her return risked losing Trump's support and hindering his strategy for Venezuela, thereby further delaying elections. Despite this, Machado attempted a second return route via Panama. However, Copa Airlines refused to transport her to Venezuela, citing fears of retaliation from Caracas, according to anonymous sources.

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if she continued with her plan to return, she ran the risk of losing Trump's support and hindering his strategy for Venezuela, which would further delay the elections.

From Panama City, Machado publicly denounced the Venezuelan government's closure of commercial airspace to prevent her return. She stated her return was "unpostponable" to "face this catastrophe together," without mentioning the alleged pressure from Washington. Axios reported that Trump administration officials viewed Machado's attempts as "grotesque political opportunism" in the wake of the earthquakes, which caused significant casualties and delayed reform processes.

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the Venezuelan government closed the commercial airspace to prevent her return to the country and assured that she considers it "unpostponable" to return to Venezuela to "face this catastrophe together."

Since the apprehension of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, Trump has expressed approval of Delcy Rodríguez, the current interim president, who has agreed to trade, mining, and oil deals demanded by Washington. Trump maintains that Caracas operates under U.S. tutelage and that Venezuela is thriving economically, particularly in oil exploitation and export, without acknowledging the potential impact of the earthquakes on the country's economic situation. Venezuelan opposition organizations in the U.S. are urging Trump to alter his relationship with Rodríguez, criticizing Washington's apparent satisfaction with the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

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Trump administration officials consider Machado's attempts as "grotesque political opportunism" after the recent earthquakes.