Nobel Laureate’s Gamble: Maria Corina Machado on Maduro Abduction and Trump’s Snub

She offered fulsome praise, but he offered a cold dismissal. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has hailed Donald Trump’s military abduction of Nicolas Maduro as a "huge step for humanity." However, the U.S. President quickly dampened her political aspirations, claiming she lacks the "respect" to lead her own country.

Maria Corina Machado on Maduro Abduction: Gratitude Amidst Political Friction

In a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner expressed deep gratitude for what she termed Trump’s "courageous vision." Machado, who secured 93 percent of the opposition primary vote in 2023, remains in hiding but has emerged verbally to support the dismantling of the Maduro administration, which she labels a "narcoterrorist regime."

Despite her alignment with Trump’s hawkish actions, the President’s response was notably tepid. On Sunday, January 4, 2026, Trump told reporters that Machado "doesn't have the support" within Venezuela. While calling her a "nice woman," he suggested it would be "very tough" for her to lead, even as Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as the interim leader in Caracas.

The Oil Factor and the Erosion of International Law

The White House has signaled that its primary interest isn't necessarily democratic restoration, but rather securing access to the world's largest oil reserves. Trump previously mentioned he would "run" the country via major U.S. oil companies. Machado appeared to welcome this, envisioning Venezuela as a future "energy hub" for the United States, promising to open markets and provide security for foreign investments.

Critics, however, view the abduction as a dangerous precedent. Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University stated that the U.S. is bypassing both international and Venezuelan law. Experts warn this "new imperialistic era" focused on strategic interests risks normalizing unilateral military actions by other global powers, effectively distorting the existing international order.