Machado fails three times to enter Venezuela as Rodriguez meets Trump
Opposition leader makes multiple unsuccessful attempts to return home while acting president deepens ties with Trump administration.
What to know
- Machado made three failed attempts in 24 hours to enter Venezuela from Panama via boat and Caribbean island routes, marking at least seven unsuccessful return efforts over nine months in exile.
- Acting President Rodríguez met with Trump at the UN General Assembly simultaneously, signaling deepening U.S. engagement with the current government while Machado remains blocked from entering.
- Trump administration has expanded ties with Rodríguez's government through eased sanctions, oil agreements, and recognition of her authority, while Machado—still Venezuela's most popular political figure at 53% positive image—awaits an unclear path home.
- Machado's daughter acknowledged 'many forces' are preventing her mother's return, suggesting obstacles beyond simple travel logistics, while it remains unclear if latest attempts were coordinated with Washington or backed by security guarantees.
“I was prepared to leave at a moment's notice and could enter the country by land, sea or air.”
María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader · Wall Street Journal ↗
María Corina Machado Venezuelan opposition leader
Delcy Rodríguez Acting President of Venezuela
Donald Trump U.S. PresidentAna Corina Sosa Machado's daughter
How it unfolded 0 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump
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Machado adviser counts seven failed return attempts in nine months — Machado adviser Pedro Urruchurtu disclosed that the latest sea and air attempts were among seven failed efforts to return since she clandestinely left Venezuela nine months ago.
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Colombia's NTN24 reports Machado's failed entry attempts — Colombia's NTN24 news outlet first reported on September 22 that Machado had attempted multiple times to enter Venezuela.
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Machado attempts three-part return journey from Panama — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado attempted three times in 24 hours to travel from Panama to Venezuela by different routes, including plans to travel by boat and to fly to Aruba and Curaçao before continuing by sea. All attempts failed.
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Rodriguez meets Trump at UN General Assembly — Acting President Delcy Rodríguez met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also attended.
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Machado's plane forced to divert in failed return attempt — An earlier failed attempt by Machado to return to Venezuela in late June resulted in her plane being forced to divert.
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Maduro captured, Rodriguez becomes acting president — Following Nicolas Maduro's capture in January, Delcy Rodríguez took over as acting president of Venezuela.
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Machado leaves Venezuela in clandestine operation — Opposition leader María Corina Machado departed Venezuela in late 2025 in a clandestine operation to collect her Nobel Peace Prize and subsequently met with Trump and other senior US officials in Washington.