U.S. officials have criticized María Corina Machado’s attempt to return to Venezuela as a distraction from essential recovery efforts following the recent earthquakes. Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has expressed a strong desire to aid Venezuela but faces opposition from the U.S.

Despite her efforts to coordinate with the Trump administration, Machado’s return attempts have been rebuffed, leading to heightened tensions. According to sources familiar with the situation, there is uncertainty about whether she can mend her relationship with U.S. officials.

Machado, a once-celebrated figure among Washington’s Republican circle, led an opposition group that won the 2024 presidential election under challenging conditions marked by government interference. Nevertheless, her victory was not recognized due to Nicolás Maduro’s regime, which was ousted by U.S. intervention earlier this year.

Her potential return poses risks, including possible actions from Venezuela’s security forces. Machado has yet to convince former President Trump that she possesses the political strength needed to govern effectively.

In a symbolic move, she presented her Nobel Prize medal to Trump, a gesture intended to win his support but has thus far been unsuccessful. Machado left Venezuela under threat of arrest, having been in hiding before attending the Peace Prize ceremony abroad.