Machado’s Team Secretly Met Trump Officials to Push Aggressive Stance Against Maduro

In a previously undisclosed meeting on January 6, 2025, four members of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s team met with Mike Waltz—then set to become Donald Trump’s national security adviser—at Capitol Hill. Machado joined via video call from her hideout in Venezuela, while her Washington-based aide David Smolansky alleged that the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was controlled by President Nicolas Maduro. The meeting marked part of a broader effort by Machado to align with Trump’s hardline advisers, arguing that Maduro’s alleged ties to criminal groups posed a direct threat to U.S. national security.

Following months of such meetings between the Venezuelan opposition and Trump’s circle, Washington officially designated Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization, offering a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture. The U.S. military has since bombed several suspected drug boats off Venezuela’s coast, with Trump claiming—without evidence—that the victims were gang members. Despite a declassified U.S. intelligence report finding no proof that Maduro directly controls the gang, Machado remains steadfast in her support for Trump’s militarized approach, even dedicating her Nobel Peace Prize to the former U.S. president “for his decisive support.”

Machado’s alignment with Trump’s strategy has drawn criticism, as it coincides with harsh immigration policies targeting Venezuelans in the U.S. While some members of her team acknowledge the “impossible dilemma” of supporting an administration deporting their compatriots, they believe U.S. military pressure is the only way to oust Maduro. Experts warn that if the strategy succeeds, Machado could be hailed as Venezuela’s savior—but if it fails, she risks political isolation and blame for potential chaos triggered by foreign intervention.

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