The White House's decision to support Rodríguez instead of opposition leader María Corina Machado has caused widespread confusion. Although Machado recently received the Nobel Peace Prize and appeared aligned with Trump, the President publicly and strongly discredited her.
“"She doesn't have the respect or support within the country."
Classified CIA documents, reported by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, advised against forcing a leadership change. The report suggested that Chavista loyalists were “better positioned” to maintain stability in Caracas.
This stance was supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who argued that backing Machado or Edmundo González would destabilize Venezuela and necessitate a “more robust military presence.” Personal jealousy from Trump over Machado winning the Nobel Peace Prize was also cited as a potential factor.
“"First we have to fix the country, elections cannot be held."
