An inside source from Qatar disclosed to CNN that María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a leading figure in the Venezuelan opposition, was notably absent from the U.S.-Venezuela transition discussions facilitated by Qatar. These talks occurred in the months leading up to the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.
According to the source, "neither U.S. nor Venezuelan officials brought up Machado as a component of any post-Maduro transition plan," despite her vocal support for U.S. intervention in Venezuela and her strong criticism of Maduro's regime.
Rather than involving Machado, the Trump administration allowed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to step in as the interim president of Venezuela. Rodríguez had been actively engaged in negotiations with Washington through Doha during 2024, including meetings with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The Qatari source specified that Qatar was positioned as a mediator between Washington and Caracas at the request of both parties, although they were not pre-informed about the January 3 operation during which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. special forces.
This revelation corroborates Trump's public remarks about Machado shortly after Maduro's capture: he expressed skepticism about her having the "support" necessary within Venezuela to lead a transition, describing her as "a very nice woman" but noting she "lacks the support and respect needed in the country."
On January 15, 2026, Machado visited Trump at the White House and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, an act that prompted the Norwegian Nobel Committee to issue a statement reminding that the award is personal and non-transferable.
Following their meeting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that Trump's stance on Machado's leadership potential "remained unchanged," characterizing the assessment as "realistic, based on what the president was reading and hearing from his advisors and national security team."
Machado's advisor, David Smolansky, dismissed this evaluation, asserting that she is "a leader with extraordinary support, backed by nearly all Venezuelans."
The Qatari insider also revealed that, at the U.S. government's request, a temporary bank account was set up in Qatar to hold proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales; this account has since been closed.
Meanwhile, Delcy Rodríguez has strengthened her stature as a recognized interlocutor with Washington: the U.S. formally acknowledged her as the interim head of state in March 2026, reopened its embassy in Caracas on the 30th of that month, and removed her from the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list on April 1.
Maduro and Cilia Flores remain detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Both have entered not guilty pleas, with their next court hearing postponed until June 30, 2026, as informed by Judge Alvin Hellerstein on May 5.
The exclusion of Machado from the transition plans, now confirmed by a direct source involved in the mediation process, intensifies tensions with sectors of the Venezuelan opposition demanding a transition devoid of Chavista influence. This comes at a time when the U.S. is assessing Machado's role in Venezuela's future within a three-phase plan that includes free elections by the end of 2026.
Key Developments in Venezuela's Transition
Why was María Corina Machado excluded from the U.S. transition plan?
Machado was excluded because U.S. officials did not believe she had sufficient support within Venezuela to lead the transition, despite her strong opposition to Maduro and endorsement of U.S. intervention.
Who assumed the interim presidency of Venezuela?
Delcy Rodríguez, the Vice President, was allowed to take on the role of interim president, having been actively involved in negotiations with U.S. officials facilitated by Qatar.
What was Qatar's role in the U.S.-Venezuela negotiations?
Qatar served as a mediator between Washington and Caracas, facilitating discussions between the two nations at the request of both parties, though they were not informed about the operation to capture Maduro in advance.