The Daily Journal — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that it would be “interesting” to see Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez and opposition leader María Corina Machado compete in potential elections.
“Well, that would be interesting,” Trump told reporters at the White House when they asked whether he would like to see the two political figures face each other at the ballot box.
His remarks come amid ongoing talks between Chavismo and a faction of the opposition led by Dinorah Figuera. Machado does not participate in these discussions.
The dialogue, which aims to achieve a democratic transition, addresses several issues, including electoral commission reform. However, the parties have yet to set an election date.
Sanctions lifted
Last week, the Trump administration lifted financial sanctions against Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, brother of Delcy Rodríguez, and Chavismo’s representative in the ongoing dialogue.
Since U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro during an operation in Caracas last January, the Trump administration has strengthened its ties with Delcy Rodríguez’s government.
The United States and Venezuela restored diplomatic relations, which had remained severed since 2019. They announced an oil agreement in August that would give Washington access to one-quarter of Venezuela’s crude oil reserves.
Meanwhile, Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, remains abroad, where she has denounced Chavista efforts to prevent her return to Venezuela.
Source: EFE
