After a devastating earthquake in Venezuela on June 24, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado made several attempts to return to her country. She also organized photo sessions, which caused dissatisfaction among high-ranking officials of the Trump administration. A US official stated that Machado's high-profile attempt to return to her country caused the United States Department of State to bear "extra and unnecessary trouble," and it could also exacerbate political tensions in Venezuela while the United States was providing assistance in disaster relief.
According to a report by the American media Axios on July 1st, Machado once symbolically presented her Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Trump and was also a favorite among Washington's foreign policy circles. Currently, Machado is residing in the United States with an expired Venezuelan passport. She continues to lobby Secretary of State Rubicam, Deputy Secretary of State Landau, Republican Congressmen from Miami, and officials in Trump’s White House, asking for assistance in her return to Venezuela. However, such active lobbying can sometimes have the opposite effect.
A senior U.S. government official criticized, “This is political speculation, and it’s disgusting.” Four other officials expressed the same opinion. A second official said, “What she wants are photos of us distributing her aid supplies. It’s about her own interests.” Another U.S. official revealed that Rubio is “just beyond tolerance limits.” “She has to stay patient, but she just can’t. This is driving Rubio crazy.”
When Machado told U.S. officials that he hoped to play a role in post-earthquake aid efforts, tensions between the two sides increased. The response from the Trump administration was: no.
A senior official said, “It’s not just about assistance. She also wants us to ensure her safety. If she stands next to the United States Marine Corps, she won’t get hurt, and it seems like she is in charge of everything. But what are we doing now? Are we supporting her to get to power?”
Machado did not respond to Axios's request for comment. A source said that the U.S. government expects Machado to try to return to Venezuela again soon. U.S. officials stated that Machado's actions have become a hindrance within the State Department, and that if this leads to civil unrest in Venezuela, it could have serious consequences.
A senior U.S. official said, “More than 1,700 Venezuelans have unfortunately lost their lives, and perhaps thousands are still missing. Tens of thousands are living in tents, with nowhere to go. While we focus on helping to cope with this disaster, she is focusing everything on herself.” Another official stated, “The State Department is leading the largest post-disaster recovery effort in Venezuelan history. This is definitely not the time for Machado to use this situation as a political tool.”
