Trump has repeatedly stated that María Corina Machado lacks sufficient domestic support and respect to lead Venezuela, citing these concerns immediately after the January 2026 U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro and installed acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The administration has prioritized engagement with Rodríguez, commending her moves to open the oil sector to U.S. investment, while rejecting Machado’s return requests and describing her as a distraction. Meetings between Trump and Machado, including her presentation of a Nobel medal, produced no shift in position. As Machado signals her intent to seek the presidency and return by late 2026 amid uncertain election timing, these consistent preferences for the interim government and explicit doubts about her viability underpin the strong trader consensus against an endorsement.