Donald Trump denies advising Maria Corina Machado against returning to Venezuela

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he never told Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado not to travel back to Venezuela. He repeated, “No, for nothing. How could I say that? She’s wonderful,” and praised her, even recalling that she had presented him with a Nobel Peace Prize medal.

The denial came as Venezuela grappled with a catastrophic double earthquake on 24 June 2026. Official figures list 3,811 deaths, 16,740 injuries and tens of thousands left homeless. Machado announced her intent to return to support the victims, but her attempts have faced air‑space closures and airline refusals.

Separately, a group of U.S. Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging an immediate lift of broad U.S. sanctions and the release of frozen assets to ease humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Venezuela.