Trump withheld support for Venezuela opposition over Nobel Prize, WP says

Sources close to the White House told the publication that Trump had no interest in supporting Machado because she had decided to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, which the US leader had openly sought.

One source said that Machado's decision to accept the prize was the "ultimate sin," even though she stated that she dedicated the award to Trump.

"If she had turned it down and said, 'I can't accept it because it's Donald Trump's,' she'd be the president of Venezuela today," the WP source emphasized.

Trump's comment on Machado

Trump earlier questioned Machado's chances of coming to power, saying she would face significant difficulties becoming a leader and claiming she lacked support and respect in the country.

A source close to Machado's team said her allies, who secretly left Venezuela to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Norway, were surprised by Trump's remarks.

One leader of the Venezuelan opposition said the US president's comments were difficult for many members of the opposition movement, noting that transition periods often require enduring painful compromises.

US operation in Venezuela

On January 3, the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife as a result of a large-scale operation. Later that day, Trump said the US would govern Venezuela until power is transferred.

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would temporarily assume the duties of head of state.

Rodríguez stressed that Venezuela would never become a colony of any country and called on Washington to return President Nicolás Maduro.

Later, Rodríguez softened her rhetoric and said she was ready to cooperate with the United States. She added that she had invited the US government to join a joint "cooperation program."