Overview
- Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met President Trump for a private White House lunch at 12:30 p.m. in Washington with no press access, followed by planned meetings with U.S. senators.
- Trump confirmed a long, positive call with acting president Delcy Rodríguez, praised her as a partner for cooperation, and signaled expanding engagement as initial Venezuelan oil sales to the U.S. were reported.
- Rodríguez, sworn in on January 5 by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, is set to present the 2025 government report to the National Assembly on behalf of Nicolás Maduro, who is detained in New York on narcotics charges along with Cilia Flores.
- Venezuela has released detainees including several U.S. citizens, with rights group Foro Penal counting 84 releases to date versus the 400 claimed by officials.
- Trump has questioned Machado’s support inside Venezuela even as he meets her, highlighting a dual-track U.S. approach that engages both chavista leadership and the opposition.