United States backs return of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado

Senior U.S. official Michael Kozak told a congressional briefing on 14 July 2026 that the Trump administration does not oppose the return of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado and that all Venezuelans who left the country for political reasons should be allowed to come back.

Kozak also stressed Washington’s desire for free and credible elections in Venezuela, saying the U.S. does not want elections held too early without guarantees, nor delayed indefinitely. He noted that work on electoral reforms – including cleaning the voter registry and renewing electoral authorities – is slated to begin on 1 August, involving the 2015‑elected National Assembly, interim authorities and political parties. The humanitarian crisis caused by recent earthquakes was cited as a factor affecting the election timetable.

Kozak mentioned that roughly 400 political prisoners remain detained and that their release is part of the broader push for political normalisation.