Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Returns To Country After U.S.-Backed Maduro Ouster
María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after nearly a year in exile, her team said.[1]
She announced her arrival on X in Spanish, writing, "I am here. With you." CBS News Machado reappeared publicly by entering a church in Lara state west of Caracas and greeting supporters.[2] Senior adviser David Smolansky said her return is meant to push a "peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable transition" toward free, fair and verifiable presidential elections, and he thanked President Trump and the U.S. government for their support.[1] The country remains led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration, and no date for a new presidential election has been set.[2]
In January 2025 Machado was briefly detained after protesting Nicolás Maduro's planned swearing-in.[2] She then hid inside Venezuela for about 11 months before escaping clandestinely and reappearing in Norway in December 2025 to accept the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.[1] She tried repeatedly to come back, with PBS reporting seven unsuccessful attempts and CBS saying her September 2026 efforts were blocked at least three times within 24 hours by air and sea.[2][1]
U.S. officials have urged stabilizing Venezuela's economy and rebuilding institutions before holding new elections, while Machado and her allies press for a firm presidential election date.[2] Asked about Machado's return, President Trump said he hoped she was safe and called her "a very nice woman." PBS
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela after nearly a year in exile, her team confirmed to CBS News (María Corina Machado).
- Machado announced her return on social media, posting on X the message "I am here. With you," without disclosing her precise location or mode of return (X).
- She reappeared publicly on October 25, 2026 by entering a church in Lara state west of Caracas and greeting supporters (Lara state).
- Senior adviser David Smolansky said Machado’s return is intended to advance a “peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable transition” toward free, fair and verifiable presidential elections and publicly thanked President Trump and the U.S. government for their support (David Smolansky).
- Machado was briefly detained in January 2025 after protesting Nicolás Maduro’s planned swearing-in, hid inside Venezuela for about 11 months, then escaped clandestinely and reappeared in Norway in December 2025 to receive the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize (Nobel Peace Prize).
- Her return followed multiple failed attempts to re-enter Venezuela — PBS reports seven unsuccessful tries (including a canceled charter boat and a blocked flight plan via Curaçao), and CBS says September 2026 attempts were blocked at least three times within 24 hours by air and sea (Curaçao).
- After U.S. forces ousted Maduro in January 2026, acting President Delcy Rodríguez — a Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration — has remained in power beyond the authorized acting period and no date for new presidential elections has been set (Delcy Rodríguez).
- U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have said Venezuela must first stabilize its economy and rebuild institutions before holding new elections, while Machado and her allies are pressing for a firm presidential election date; President Donald Trump said he hoped she was safe and commented that "we're doing really well in Venezuela" (Marco Rubio).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article confirms that on Sunday, October 25, 2026, María Corina Machado reappeared publicly in Venezuela, entering a church in Lara state west of Caracas and greeting supporters.
- Machado publicly announced her return on social media with the message "I am here. With you," and fellow opposition leader Edmundo González wrote on X that he would be with her "very soon" and called it an "important day" for Venezuelans.
- U.S. President Donald Trump, asked about her return on Sunday, said he did not know details but called her "a very nice woman" who had given him her Nobel Prize and added, "I hope she's safe," while saying "we're doing really well in Venezuela."
- The article reiterates that acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration, was authorized by Venezuela's high court to serve as acting president for up to 90 days, extendable once by the National Assembly, but that the ruling party-controlled assembly never voted to extend her term.
- PBS/AP recount that in January 2025 Machado was briefly detained after protesting Maduro's planned swearing-in, hid in Venezuela for 11 months, then escaped clandestinely and reappeared in Norway in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
- The story adds detailed narrative on Machado's seven unsuccessful attempts to return, including a canceled charter boat and a blocked flight plan via Curaçao when landing permits were denied.
- The article reports that Trump administration officials acknowledge advising Machado against returning at times due to safety concerns while denying they were actively blocking her return.
- It restates that credible evidence showed Edmundo González defeated Maduro by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the 2024 presidential election, but that the ruling-party-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, followed by more than 2,000 detentions.
- The article quotes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying earlier in October 2026 that Venezuela must first stabilize its economy and rebuild institutions before new elections, while affirming that Machado has "every right to enter her country whenever she wants to return."
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Machado’s team confirmed to CBS News that she is back in Venezuela after nearly a year in exile.
- Machado posted on X in Spanish, "I am here. With you," without disclosing her precise location or mode of return.
- Senior adviser David Smolansky told CBS that her return is meant to advance a “peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable transition” toward free, fair, and verifiable presidential elections, and publicly thanked President Trump and the U.S. government for their support.
- CBS recounts that Machado covertly left Venezuela in December 2025 with a private U.S. rescue team to receive the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in Norway after being barred from exiting by Nicolás Maduro’s government.
- The article notes that since Maduro’s January 2026 ouster by U.S. forces, Venezuela has been run by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was backed by the Trump administration and has now exceeded the authorized period of acting rule with no election date set.
- CBS reports that Machado’s earlier attempts to re-enter Venezuela in September 2026 were blocked at least three times within 24 hours by air and sea.
- The article states that current U.S. officials are emphasizing economic stabilization first, while Machado and allies are demanding a firm date for a presidential election.