The Trump administration has repeatedly denied requests from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to facilitate her return to the country after the twin earthquakes on 24 June that killed at least 2,295 people. US officials, speaking to Axios, described her efforts as “political opportunism” and “grotesque,” arguing that her presence would add unnecessary tension to the aid response. The State Department publicly stated that introducing “sensitive political issues” at this moment is “counterproductive” to relief efforts. Machado, currently in Panama, has accused both the Venezuelan government and Washington of obstructing her return, saying she wants to coordinate citizen aid and accompany victims.

Viewed from Washington, the priority is maintaining stability in a country where the US exercises significant influence over both the government of Delcy Rodríguez and the opposition, according to Venezuelan analyst Piero Trepiccione. US intelligence agencies, as reported by TN, believe Machado’s return could further destabilise an already chaotic situation. The White House, according to The New York Times, prefers to work with current Venezuelan authorities on aid delivery. In Caracas, an opposition leader told TN anonymously that there are divisions within the movement about the timing of her return, with some fearing it could trigger a civil rebellion amid growing public discontent. Machado has not directly criticised Trump in public statements, instead blaming the “regime” for closing airspace and threatening those who would help her.

The standoff has exposed a fracture between Machado and the US administration that had been building for months. The New York Times reported that Machado had previously gifted her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in an effort to win his favour, but US officials now question whether she can revive relations with Washington. Her attempts to return via Curaçao were thwarted when Dutch authorities, after initially believing the US backed the operation, denied her entry upon learning that Washington would not vouch for her. The US has made clear it will not provide security guarantees, with one official telling Axios that if she stood alongside US Marines distributing aid, it would appear as if she were being installed in power.

The earthquakes have left over 11,000 injured, with hundreds of homes destroyed and the main airport temporarily closed. International rescue teams have faced delays, and Machado has alleged that the government blocked citizen aid distribution. The US continues to lead humanitarian efforts, but the political dimension remains fraught. The State Department has said it supports Machado’s return “in the future,” but for now, the dossier is frozen. Machado has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to return, but without US backing, her options are limited. The opposition remains divided, and no clear timeline exists for her re-entry.