U.S. officials said to be frustrated with Machado’s call for help

By TYLER PAGER

U.S. officials say they are frustrated with María Corina Machado, the exiled Venezuelan opposition leader, for requesting help facilitating her return to Venezuela in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes, according to two White House officials.

They said Machado’s multiple requests were ill-timed, and one official called them a “political stunt.” The United States, as well as dozens of other countries, had been focused on giving aid to Venezuela on Saturday.

At least 1,430 people died from the two earthquakes as of Saturday, and rescue teams from around the world have been trying to help find survivors. U.S. officials said they would take a leading role in the response, including dispatching rescue teams from around the country and deploying a naval ship to provide medical support.

Machado has wanted to return to Venezuela for months. White House officials said they supported her desire to do so, but they made clear that they did not want her to travel back to the country in the immediate future.

She left Venezuela in December in a risky operation to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, which she then gave to President Donald Trump. After U.S. forces captured Nicolas Maduro, the country’s leader, in January, Machado wanted to return to Venezuela, but Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio advised her against that.

In a meeting at the White House in March, the U.S. leaders said they were worried about her safety as they prioritized working with Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president of Venezuela, and the interim government.

A spokesperson for Machado did not immediately respond to a request for comment.