WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday, a high-stakes encounter that could affect how the US president seeks to shape the South American country’s political future.
The lunch meeting marked the first time the two met in person. After departing the White House around 2:40 p.m. local time (1940 GMT), Machado told reporters the encounter was “great.” She did not otherwise comment on the substance of the conversation, which appeared to last slightly over an hour.
While the visit was ongoing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to meeting Machado, but that he stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term.
Machado, who fled Venezuela in a daring seaborne escape in December, is competing for Trump’s ear with members of Venezuela’s government and seeking to ensure she has a role in governing the nation going forward.
After the US captured Venezuela’s longtime leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, various opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America have expressed hope that Venezuela will begin the process of democratisation.
“I know the president was looking forward to this meeting, and he was expecting it to be a good and positive discussion with Miss Machado, who is really a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela,” Leavitt told reporters during a briefing as the meeting was ongoing.
“So the president looks forward to obviously talking to her about the realities on the ground in the country and what is taking place.”
Trump has said he is focused on economically rebuilding Venezuela and securing US access to the country’s oil.
