The president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, have met for the first time in Washington after the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro. The meeting, without access allowed to the press, lasted around two hours. The opponent left the White House at 2:40 p.m. (local time) and upon leaving she assured the media that “the meeting went very well.”
Corina stopped to greet a group of followers who were waiting for her at the doors of the White House and assured that she is counting on President Trump “for the freedom of Venezuela.” In addition, he carried with him the poster of Congressman Juan Pablo Guanipa, a representative of the National Assembly arrested in May by the Venezuelan authorities.
The White House insists that Corina does not have the “necessary support”
Corina is scheduled to give a press conference on the steps of the Capitol at 4:00 p.m. (local time) after the meeting with Republican and Democratic senators. While the meeting was taking place, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump was “looking forward” to meeting with Machado, but that he continued to maintain his “realistic” assessment that he does not have the “necessary support” to govern the country.
“I know the president was looking forward to this meeting and hoped it would be a good, positive discussion with Ms. Machado, who is truly a remarkable and courageous voice for many people in Venezuela,” Leavitt told reporters. “Therefore, the president looks forward to speaking with her about the reality of the country,” he added.
The Nobel Peace Prize, a possible topic to discuss
One issue brought up in the conversation may have been the Nobel Peace Prize that Corina won in December ahead of Trump. After Maduro’s capture, the opposition suggested that she would share it with him. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has warned that the prize cannot be transferred, revoked or shared.
As reported by Reuters, upon leaving after the meeting Machado avoided commenting on this fact. Previously, Trump had been asked if he wanted it handed over to him, but he flatly denied it: “I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Washington assures that Delcy Rodríguez has complied “up to now” with “all demands”
Trump has trusted Delcy Rodríguez from the first moment, who now holds the position of person in charge of Venezuela. After a phone call between both leaders, the first since the attacks, Leavitt confirmed that “so far” Delcy has complied “with all the demands of the United States.”
“We have achieved an energy agreement of 500 million dollars, largely thanks to the cooperation of Rodríguez,” explained the spokesperson at the same press conference. He has also confirmed that Venezuelan authorities have released five American citizens, which is why Trump hopes, in Leavitt’s words, “that cooperation will continue.”
