Machado Aims for Leadership Amid Venezuela's Transition

Thu Jan 08 2026 15:37:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a pivotal moment for Venezuela, opposition leader María Corina Machado declares her readiness to lead the nation following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro, amidst skepticism from the US and local factions.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has asserted her claim to leadership after the recent removal of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. Despite expressing gratitude for US support, she underscores a lack of trust in the appointed interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez. Machado insists she is prepared to govern, contrasting her ambitions with US President Trump's dismissive remarks about her credibility among Venezuelans.

Machado Aims for Leadership Amid Venezuela's Transition

In a pivotal moment for Venezuela, opposition leader María Corina Machado has declared she should absolutely be in charge of the country, following the recent intervention by US forces that led to the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro.

We are ready and willing to serve our people as we have been mandated, Machado stated in a CBS interview, expressing her commitment to the Venezuelan populace.

Following the military operations in Caracas that apprehended Maduro, Machado thanked US President Donald Trump for his leadership and courage. However, she expresses skepticism regarding Delcy Rodríguez, who has been appointed as the interim leader, claiming that no one trusts her due to her close ties to the former administration.

Machado's faction asserted victory in the disputed elections of 2024. Despite this, President Trump has publicly questioned her viability as a successor, stating she lacks popular support within the nation, which she disputes.

Describing the US military action as a vital move towards democracy and rule of law, Machado emphasized her gratitude towards Trump for facilitating Maduro's removal. However, she has not communicated with the President this year, even as she pushes for recognition.

Rodríguez, inaugurated following Maduro's arrest, has dismissed suggestions of US control over Venezuela, maintaining that the Venezuelan government remains in charge.