Machado, 58, is a central opposition leader and Nobel laureate known for advocating a democratic transition in Venezuela.

She has sought support from the Trump administration while navigating tensions with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and Maduro allies, amid White House frustration with her rhetoric.

Maduro was captured in a U.S. operation in January and is being held in New York to face charges including drug trafficking and terrorism.

Delcy Rodríguez has been named interim president by the Supreme Court, as Maduro faces legal jeopardy in the United States.

She asserted that U.S. support helped bring Maduro to international justice, while praising members of Congress, judges, and the military for risking their lives for Venezuelan freedom.

Delcy Rodríguez warned Machado that she would have to answer for her return if she goes back to Venezuela, accusing Machado of backing the U.S. military action.

A Venezuelan opposition figure who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year pledges to return to Venezuela within weeks to help guide an orderly, sustainable, and unstoppable transition to democracy.

After Maduro’s claimed victory in the 2024 elections, protests and repression followed, with the opposition arguing that the real winner was Edmundo González, who replaced Machado after she was barred from running.

Machado thanked the United States and its leaders for actions she says aided Venezuela’s freedom, and credited Donald Trump with pressuring Maduro toward international justice.

Machado emphasized the need for accountability for Maduro’s regime and its associates, while acknowledging U.S. actions that contributed to the shift.

Her comments balance praise for U.S. actions against Maduro with criticism of Maduro-era officials, as she positions herself for future influence in Venezuela.

Machado characterized the Maduro regime as having engaged in widespread repression and human rights abuses, and called for dismantling repression, rebuilding the economy, and advancing a transition.