The opposition leader returned to Venezuela. Trump surprised by her decision

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has returned to Venezuela after nearly a year abroad. Her return may complicate relations with the U.S. administration, as President Trump expressed surprise at her decision and hopes for her safety. Machado had previously sought U.S. support for her political efforts. She left Venezuela secretly in late 2025 to receive her Nobel Prize and had been hiding from the Maduro regime. Her return coincides with ongoing negotiations between the interim government and parts of the opposition regarding electoral reforms, although Machado's group is not involved in these talks. She advocates for free and fair elections and plans to meet with political prisoners' families and international community representatives.