U.S. President Donald Trump described the possibility of Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado facing off in a presidential election as “interesting.”
The remark, made Monday in response to reporters’ questions at the White House, comes amid negotiations between Chavismo and a faction of the opposition aimed at defining a political transition in the South American country.
Although Trump’s response continues to fuel speculation about a potential electoral showdown, Venezuela still has no electoral calendar, and the constitutionally mandated term for an interim presidency in the absence of the president has long since expired.
Meanwhile, Washington has shown little sign of moving forward with the long-awaited electoral timetable that should determine the country’s political future.
Trump calls potential Rodriguez-Machado election in Venezuela “interesting”
“Well, that would be interesting,” Trump replied when reporters asked whether he would like to see Delcy Rodriguez and Maria Corina Machado compete directly at the ballot box. The U.S. president offered no further details about his position and did not clarify whether his administration was considering formally backing an opposition candidacy or promoting conditions that would allow both leaders to participate.
The response comes at a time of profound political realignment in Venezuela, following the capture of Nicolas Maduro during a U.S. military operation in Caracas in January. Since then, Rodriguez has led the interim government, while Washington has restored diplomatic relations with Caracas and strengthened its contacts with the new authorities.
The rapprochement also has an evident and acknowledged economic dimension. In August, the two countries announced a far-reaching oil agreement that would allow the United States to gain access to a significant share of Venezuela’s oil resources. Last week, the Trump administration lifted financial sanctions against Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly and the government’s main interlocutor in the political negotiations.
These developments reflect a new phase in relations between Washington and Caracas, in which energy interests and institutional restructuring coexist with demands for a democratic transition.
Negotiations move forward without Maria Corina Machado
Talks between the Chavista government and a faction of the opposition led by Dinorah Figuera aim to establish the conditions for a political transition. The issues under discussion include reforming the National Electoral Council (CNE), an institution whose independence is essential to ensuring the transparency of future elections.
However, Machado is not participating in the negotiations and has publicly criticized her exclusion from talks about the country’s future. The leader, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, remains outside Venezuela despite repeated announcements that her return is imminent. She has denounced obstacles to her return, amid uncertainty over her ability to participate directly in the political process.
The White House supports the talks between the interim government and the opposition faction represented by Figuera. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed his backing for the process, as the parties continue to discuss institutional reforms and the conditions for moving toward a new political chapter.
Machado’s absence raises questions about the representativeness of the negotiations and whether all opposition forces will be able to participate in the decisions that will shape Venezuela’s electoral future.
Venezuela still has no election date
The lack of an electoral calendar remains one of the main obstacles to achieving a democratic transition. In September, Delcy Rodriguez pledged before the United Nations General Assembly to hold elections in Venezuela, but she did not specify when they would take place or present a timetable for organizing the vote.
Machado’s party is calling for an election date to be set as soon as possible and demanding that the political ban preventing the opposition leader from running in the 2024 presidential election be lifted. Without that decision, any potential candidacy would continue to face a legal obstacle, regardless of whether a political agreement to hold elections were reached.
The opposition is also demanding full electoral guarantees, participation without exclusions, and conditions that allow for genuine competition against Chavismo. Reforming the electoral authority and establishing transparent rules are therefore among the key issues that will determine whether the negotiations can lead to a credible call for elections.
“¿Le gustaría ver a @delcyrodriguezv enfrentando a @MariaCorinaYA en una elección presidencial en Venezuela?”
— @POTUS: “eso sería interesante.” https://t.co/LYxndS93yt
— Juan Camilo Merlano (@JuanCMerlano) October 19, 2026