Machado says Venezuela will be free with support of Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Friday her country was starting a “true transition” to democracy and would become free with support from the US and President Donald Trump.Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice-president Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the January 3 US military operation that seized Nicolas Maduro.“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this would have an “immense impact in the lives of all Venezuelans” as well as around the region and the world.“Venezuela is going to be free, and that’s going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the president, Donald Trump,” Machado said.Her party has presented evidence that Maduro stole the 2024 election – claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.But Trump has said that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Rodriguez, so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.