Maria Corina Machado’s Return to Venezuela Faces U.S. Hesitation After Deadly Earthquakes

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s renewed appeal for U.S. assistance to return to Venezuela following the country’s devastating earthquakes has reportedly caused frustration among senior officials in Washington, according to a White House official.

Machado has contacted multiple officials across the U.S. government in recent days, including representatives from the White House, the State Department, and several members of Congress, requesting support to facilitate her return to Venezuela. The outreach comes after twin earthquakes struck the South American nation, leaving more than 900 people dead and triggering a large-scale humanitarian crisis.

Speaking anonymously, a White House official said the United States supports Machado’s eventual return but questioned the timing of her request while emergency rescue and relief operations remain underway.

“We support her returning to Venezuela, but does it have to be 24 hours after a massive humanitarian catastrophe where the death toll continues to climb?” the official said.

A spokesperson for Machado did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Machado, 58, left Venezuela in December after defying a decade-long travel ban to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. Before departing, she had spent more than a year living in hiding following Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election. Since relocating, she has primarily been based in the United States while continuing to advocate for democratic reforms in her homeland.

Earlier this year, the United States captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, raising expectations among some opposition supporters that Machado could take a leading role in shaping Venezuela’s political future. However, U.S. President Donald Trump instead backed former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez for the country’s transitional leadership, arguing that Machado lacked sufficient political support to govern in the short term.

Despite the setback, Machado has consistently called for free and fair elections in Venezuela and had previously stated that she intended to return before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has intensified its humanitarian response to the earthquake disaster. According to the State Department, Washington has deployed search-and-rescue teams, coordinated shipments of critical medical supplies, and approved $150 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to support relief efforts across the affected regions.

As Venezuela struggles with one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years, the debate surrounding Machado’s return highlights the delicate balance between ongoing humanitarian operations and the country’s uncertain political transition.