Senior U.S. officials express frustration over a reported plan by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to return to Venezuela after recent earthquakes, according to a White House official cited by multiple outlets. Machado, who left Venezuela in December despite a decade-long travel ban, previously spent more than a year in hiding following disputed presidential elections in 2024. The coverage links her departure to her role in seeking international attention after the 2024 election, and notes that she later received the Nobel Peace Prize.
The reports indicate that the White House official views Machado’s return as difficult given existing U.S. and international constraints related to her ability to travel legally and safely, particularly while she remains barred under Venezuelan restrictions. While the accounts focus on U.S. officials’ reaction, they do not present details on Machado’s stated plans or the Venezuelan government’s response to her proposed return. The situation is framed around the contrast between the humanitarian context after earthquakes and the political/legal hurdles that continue to surround Machado’s activism and travel.
