Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's recent push to return to Venezuela following devastating earthquakes has caused frustration among senior US officials. Machado has reached out to the White House, State Department, and members of Congress, seeking assistance to facilitate her return. This comes after she left Venezuela in December 2025, defying a travel ban to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and had been primarily based in the US since. Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela this week, resulting in over 900 deaths, prompting a significant humanitarian response.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, stated, "We support her returning to Venezuela, but does it have to be 24 hours after a massive humanitarian catastrophe where the death toll continues to climb?" The US has mobilized search and rescue teams, is coordinating medical supply deliveries, and has unlocked $150 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela in the wake of the disaster. Prior to the earthquakes, Machado, who has been advocating for free and fair elections, had expressed her intent to return to Venezuela by the end of the year.
The political landscape in Venezuela is complex, especially after the US captured former President Nicolas Maduro in January, which some opponents hoped would open a path for Machado to play a central role. However, US President Donald Trump had instead backed Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, asserting that Machado lacked the necessary support for short-term leadership. Machado's team, meanwhile, has launched "Operation Everyone with Venezuela" to mobilize humanitarian aid through volunteer networks and social media platforms, providing an alternative to the government's response efforts.
