Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she plans to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible” following the US capture of longtime ruler Nicolás Maduro, while warning that remaining regime officials have escalated arrests and repression inside the country. She also spoke on the Nobel Peace Prize, stating how thankful she was for President Trump's removal of Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking Monday on Fox News’ Hannity, Machado said she believes the current moment requires her return after spending more than a year in hiding.
“As I’ve always said, Sean, every day I make a decision where I am more useful for our cause,” Machado said. “That’s why I stayed in hiding for over 16 months, and that’s why I decided to go out, because I believed that at this moment I’m more useful to our cause, being able to speak out from where I’m at right now. But I’m going to go as soon possible back home.”
Machado said developments following Maduro’s removal have raised alarm. She pointed to an executive order signed by Maduro on the same day he was captured and flown out of Venezuela by US forces.
“What we’re seeing right now in the last 24 hours is really alarming,” she said.
According to Machado, the order mandates the persecution of Venezuelans who support the US action. She said at least 14 journalists have already been detained. A state of emergency decree issued Saturday and published Monday orders police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” according to Reuters.
Machado said the situation must be closely monitored by both Venezuelans and the United States. “So this is very alarming. This is something that has to be followed carefully, I’m sure, by the United States government and by the Venezuelan people,” she said. “And certainly we believe that this transition should move forward.”
During the segment, Machado said that she believes that President Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, having already previously dedicated her award to Trump. She called the extraction of Maduro a “huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.”
Machado also revealed that she spoke to President Trump on October 10, though she has not spoken to him since. She said that she speaks on behalf of Venezuelans by thanking Trump, saying that 30 million Venezuelans are now closer to freedom and that the United States is now a safer country.
When asked by Hannity if Trump was ever offered the Peace Prize by her, she said that it "It hasn’t happened yet, but I would certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we, the Venezuelan people — because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him."
Machado also criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in on Monday as interim president.
“Delcy Rodriguez, as you know, is one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking,” Machado said. “She’s the main ally and liaison with Russia, China, Iran, certainly not an individual that could be trusted by international investors. And she’s really rejected, repudiated by the Venezuelan people.”
Machado’s remarks came days after the Trump administration announced that US forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following large-scale military strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. Both are currently being held in New York while awaiting trial on narco-terrorism charges.
Speaking Monday on Fox News’ Hannity, Machado said she believes the current moment requires her return after spending more than a year in hiding.
“As I’ve always said, Sean, every day I make a decision where I am more useful for our cause,” Machado said. “That’s why I stayed in hiding for over 16 months, and that’s why I decided to go out, because I believed that at this moment I’m more useful to our cause, being able to speak out from where I’m at right now. But I’m going to go as soon possible back home.”
Machado said developments following Maduro’s removal have raised alarm. She pointed to an executive order signed by Maduro on the same day he was captured and flown out of Venezuela by US forces.
“What we’re seeing right now in the last 24 hours is really alarming,” she said.
According to Machado, the order mandates the persecution of Venezuelans who support the US action. She said at least 14 journalists have already been detained. A state of emergency decree issued Saturday and published Monday orders police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” according to Reuters.
Machado said the situation must be closely monitored by both Venezuelans and the United States. “So this is very alarming. This is something that has to be followed carefully, I’m sure, by the United States government and by the Venezuelan people,” she said. “And certainly we believe that this transition should move forward.”
During the segment, Machado said that she believes that President Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, having already previously dedicated her award to Trump. She called the extraction of Maduro a “huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.”
Machado also revealed that she spoke to President Trump on October 10, though she has not spoken to him since. She said that she speaks on behalf of Venezuelans by thanking Trump, saying that 30 million Venezuelans are now closer to freedom and that the United States is now a safer country.
When asked by Hannity if Trump was ever offered the Peace Prize by her, she said that it "It hasn’t happened yet, but I would certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we, the Venezuelan people — because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him."
Machado also criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in on Monday as interim president.
“Delcy Rodriguez, as you know, is one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking,” Machado said. “She’s the main ally and liaison with Russia, China, Iran, certainly not an individual that could be trusted by international investors. And she’s really rejected, repudiated by the Venezuelan people.”
Machado’s remarks came days after the Trump administration announced that US forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following large-scale military strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. Both are currently being held in New York while awaiting trial on narco-terrorism charges.
