Venezuela says Machado was free to enter after U.S. request

Rubio said relief should be the priority immediately after June earthquakes

In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in a Monday call that the Trump administration told Venezuela’s interim authorities “weeks and weeks ago” that opposition leader María Corina Machado should be allowed to return. The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez replied to the United States that Machado was free to enter Venezuela, and Machado returned to the country Sunday.

“Weeks and weeks ago, we spoke to the interim authorities and just said, ‘Look, our expectation is that she’s a Venezuelan, she belongs in her country. That’s the country she’s from. She should be allowed to return. She should be allowed to return unperturbed,’” Rubio said.

Rubio said the United States did not discourage Machado from returning except immediately after the devastating earthquakes in June. He said the U.S. position then was that getting humanitarian and emergency relief into the country should be the priority.

Electoral reforms and U.S. leverage

Venezuelan authorities and opposition figures agreed last week on a blueprint to reform the country’s electoral process so free and fair elections could take place at some point in 2027. Rubio spoke after the agreement as Venezuela moved ahead with preparations for elections next year.

Rubio said the Trump administration would watch events closely and urge all sides to comply with the new process.

“Obviously, we need to use our leverage with the government for the interim authorities to ensure that the process is moving forward in a responsible way,” Rubio said. “Our goal here is to have an election.”

Conditions for a sustainable election

Rubio said the U.S. goal was to help put in place a sustainable election architecture that would give all parties confidence in the vote.

To get there, Rubio said Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council.

Rubio also said Venezuela must provide an open space for political expression. He said that space would hinge on press freedom and access to all media outlets, including online platforms.

Machado’s return and Venezuela’s transition

Machado had been in hiding in Venezuela for most of 2025 before making a clandestine escape that December to Norway, where she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She later gave her medal to President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration had captured then-President Nicolás Maduro in a January military operation and brought him to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges.

Her Sunday return was her first appearance since the United States deposed Maduro and replaced him with Rodríguez, who had been his vice president and has now exceeded the time she was authorized to serve, with no election yet scheduled.