Headline: Trump Says He Plans to Meet Maria Corina Machado in Washington Next Week
US President Donald Trump has said that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will be in Washington next week, suggesting he intends to meet with the Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
“I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview.
The planned meeting, which would be the first between Trump and Machado, follows recent US military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were transported to New York to face trial on drug and weapons charges.
Trump told Fox News last week that Machado lacks the respect and support within Venezuela needed to lead the country, and he has also suggested that the US may effectively oversee Venezuela for an extended period.
He told the network that Venezuela, currently led by acting President Delcy Rodriguez, is not prepared to hold new elections.
“We have to rebuild the country. They couldn’t have an election,” he said. “They wouldn’t even know how to have an election right now.”
Machado has indicated she may share her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, whom she has praised, and Trump said accepting such a gesture would be a “great honor.”
Trump also called it a “major embarrassment” for Norway that he did not win the prize, which is awarded by a Norwegian committee.