Trump will meet María Corina Machado to discuss Venezuela's future

President Trump will host María Corina Machado at the White House to discuss Venezuela's future after the US capture of Nicolás Maduro; the White House has recognised Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's interim leader.

President Donald Trump will host María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday to discuss Venezuela's future after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro in an early-January operation. Machado is a Venezuelan opposition leader and the 2025 Nobel peace prize winner. The White House has so far recognised Maduro's former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader. Venezuela's ambassador to the UK, Félix Plasencia, was also due in Washington to meet US officials. Key facts: - Trump will host María Corina Machado at the White House for talks on Venezuela's future. - Nicolás Maduro was seized in a US operation on 3 January and transported to a New York jail, according to reporting. - The White House has largely sidelined Machado and recognised Delcy Rodríguez as the interim leader. - Venezuela's ambassador to the UK, Félix Plasencia, was scheduled to meet US officials in Washington. - Machado won a 2024 opposition primary but was blocked from running; she received the 2025 Nobel peace prize. - The administration announced an agreement for up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and signed an executive order to safeguard Venezuelan oil revenues. Summary: The meeting is part of an unfolding US engagement with Venezuela following Maduro's capture and comes after a recent phone call between Trump and Delcy Rodríguez. Officials from both sides are holding follow-up talks in Washington, including the planned visit by Félix Plasencia. Undetermined at this time.