VENEZUELA January 6, 2026 – In an exclusive interview on Fox News’ Hannity, Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado dedicated her award to U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his administration’s role in the recent capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“Let me be very clear,” Machado said during the interview. “As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated [it] to President Trump because I believed at that point he deserved it… It was impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, January 3rd.”
Machado described the U.S.-led operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture and transfer to the United States—where he now faces drug trafficking charges—as a historic turning point. “January 3rd will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny,” she declared. “It is a milestone… not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future. I think it is a huge step towards humanity, for freedom and human dignity.”
The interview, conducted remotely, comes amid Venezuela’s ongoing political transition following Maduro’s removal. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court on Monday to federal charges. Interim leadership has passed to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, though Machado has expressed concerns about Rodríguez’s ties to Russia, China, and Iran, stating she “cannot be trusted by international investors” and has been “rejected by the Venezuelan people.”
Machado, who has been in exile and previously barred from running in elections, signaled her intent to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible,” alongside Edmundo González, widely regarded by opposition supporters as the rightful winner of the 2024 presidential election.
The Nobel dedication has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters viewing it as recognition of U.S. efforts to end Maduro’s rule, while critics question foreign intervention in Venezuelan affairs. Machado emphasized gratitude to Trump for what she called his “courageous vision” in bringing Maduro to justice.
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