Maria Corina Machado Vows Strongest US-Venezuela Alliance Following Trump's Military Intervention

One leader is in shackles while another steps into the spotlight. Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's prominent opposition leader, delivered a bold message to Washington on January 16, 2026. In her first formal news conference at the Heritage Foundation, she pledged to transform Venezuela into the United States' "best ally" in the Americas.

Maria Corina Machado Trump Support and the Post-Maduro Era

The conference comes just a day after Machado's private lunch with President Donald Trump at the White House. Following the dramatic abduction of Nicolas Maduro by US forces on January 3, Machado expressed profound gratitude for Trump's decisive action, characterizing it as a courageous move for both the American and Venezuelan people.

Addressing Migration and Human Rights Concerns

Machado didn't shy away from sensitive topics like mass deportations. She argued that a democratic transition would solve the root cause of migration, potentially bringing home millions of the 7.9 million refugees estimated by the United Nations. On the same day, the first flight of 199 Venezuelan deportees since Maduro's removal landed in La Guaira, signaling a shift in bilateral cooperation.