Venezuela opposition leader Machado says she should lead country

New Delhi, Jan 7: As US President Donald Trump publicly questioned her ability to lead Venezuela, opposition figure María Corina Machado said she should “absolutely” be in charge of the country following the US military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power last week, the BBC reported.

In an interview with CBS, as quoted by BBC, Machado said she and her movement were “ready and willing to serve” the Venezuelan people, claiming a mandate from the country’s disputed 2024 elections.

She thanked Trump for his “leadership and courage” in arresting Maduro, describing the intervention as a major step towards restoring democracy and the rule of law. Machado, a former legislator and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said there was no trust in interim president Delcy Rodríguez, calling her a key architect of repression under the Maduro government. Rodríguez, who was sworn in on Monday, has rejected claims that the US is running Venezuela and insisted the country remains under Venezuelan control. Trump, however, has dismissed Machado as a credible successor, saying she lacks popular support and respect within Venezuela.