The visit comes just weeks after US forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
However, Trump refused to endorse Machado as the new leader of Venezuela. Instead, the US supported Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president.
Machado said last week that she hoped to personally thank Trump for his action against Maduro and that she would like to give him the Nobel Prize. Trump called it a “great honor,” but the Nobel committee later clarified that the prize is not transferable.
Earlier, Trump expressed displeasure over her decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor the president has long wanted. Asked Friday if receiving Machado’s award might change his view of her role in Venezuela, the president said: “Maybe she will be involved in some aspect of government.”
– I’ll have to talk to her. I think it’s very nice that he wants to come. And that, as I understand it, is the reason for the meeting – said Trump.
Earlier this month, after Maduro was removed from power, Trump said Machado “has no support within the country, no respect within the country.” “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t get respect,” he said at the time.
So far, the US has supported Delcy Rodríguez as interim president of Venezuela. Trump describes Rodríguez as an “ally,” and U.S. officials have not charged her with any crimes.
“Delcy Rodríguez and her team are very cooperative with the United States of America,” said White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt on Monday.
However, Machado claimed that her coalition “absolutely” should be at the head of the country. Machado also pointed out that no one believes Rodríguez, telling CBS that the interim leader is “one of the main architects … of the repression of innocent people” in the South American country.
– Everyone in Venezuela and abroad knows perfectly well who she is and what role she played – said Machado.
The former parliamentarian, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, described the US military action in Venezuela as “an important step towards the restoration of prosperity, the rule of law and democracy in Venezuela.”
Rodríguez rejected Trump’s claims that the US is running Venezuela.
– The Venezuelan government governs our country and no one else governs us – she said in a televised speech. “There is no outside agent running Venezuela.”
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
