Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, after 10 months abroad. Machado announced her arrival on social media, stating, "I'm here, with you all." Her campaign team reported that she made her first public appearance at the Church of Santa Rosa in Lara state, in western Venezuela.
Machado’s return follows the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, after which Delcy Rodríguez took over as interim President. While Machado has been a prominent figure in the opposition, the Trump administration has repeatedly sidelined her.
According to her campaign team, Machado was surrounded by a congregation of worshippers during her appearance in Lara state. Other opposition figures commented on the development, including Edmundo González Urrutia, who ran against Maduro in the 2024 presidential election. Writing from exile in Spain, González described the day as important for Venezuelans and expressed his intention to join Machado soon so the country could advance.
The shift involves the leadership of a nation that saw its former head of state removed 10 months ago. President Trump told reporters on Sunday that he was unaware of her return but expressed hope for her safety, noting that Machado had previously given him her Nobel Prize.
Machado's return could increase pressure on interim President Delcy Rodríguez as Machado calls for elections, while the current U.S. position prioritizes stabilization first. The next steps remain dependent on the interim government's response and whether other exiled figures, such as Edmundo González, fulfill their intentions to return. No specific dates for future elections were reported.