Exiled Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was forced to abandon an effort to return to her homeland after the aircraft carrying her allegedly turned back when Washington withdrew its support, according to a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal.
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been living in exile since December, was reportedly on a flight bound for Venezuela when the trip was unexpectedly interrupted. According to The Wall Street Journal, intermediaries warned her that continuing with her plans to return could interfere with President Donald Trump’s strategy for Venezuela.
Sources cited by the newspaper said Machado’s return could further delay the country’s elections.
The report said Machado spent approximately $35,000 on the trip last week because she believed she had the support of President Trump.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the effort unraveled after the flight was forced to turn around.
The following day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio allegedly contacted Machado in an effort to discourage another attempt to return. The newspaper reported that Rubio cited ongoing earthquake relief efforts as a reason for caution.
Despite that warning, Machado reportedly remained determined to travel back to Venezuela.
According to The Wall Street Journal, she made another attempt on Sunday. That effort also failed after Copa Airlines allegedly declined to allow her to board one of its flights. The newspaper noted that the airline did not respond to a request for comment.
Machado, 58, was the most prominent political challenger to former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro before leaving the country. Maduro was later captured by the United States during what the article describes as a daring military operation in January.
Machado’s political ambitions have continued despite her exile.
She was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Nevertheless, during a speech in Panama City in May, she declared her intention to seek office in her home country.
“I will be a candidate, but there may be others, of course,” Machado told reporters at the time. “I would love to compete with everyone, with anyone who wants to be a candidate.”
While Machado has sought to return and pursue elected office, the Trump administration has backed acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president.
Machado has argued that recent events have made her return even more urgent.
Nearly 2,600 people have been killed after twin earthquakes devastated parts of northern Venezuela, according to the article.
Appearing on Fox & Friends earlier this week, Machado said the disaster only strengthened her belief that she should return to the country.
“The time has come,” she said.
Her unsuccessful attempts to travel back to Venezuela, combined with reports that U.S. support was allegedly withdrawn, have added another twist to the country’s evolving political situation. According to The Wall Street Journal, Machado believed she initially had backing for the trip, only to see those plans collapse amid concerns that her return could complicate the administration’s broader approach toward Venezuela and potentially delay the nation’s elections.
