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Prioritising stability
Questions about Machado's role in Venezuelan politics emerged within hours of the US operation to remove Maduro, a leader accused of violently suppressing dissent.
Machado, 58, had been living in hiding for months after the 2024 election, for fear of facing arrest.
But that changed in December, when she escaped abroad to accept the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to advance Venezuelan democracy.
Given her longstanding public opposition to Maduro, Machado was widely viewed as a favourite to replace him, should his government ever fall.
But when Trump announced the US military operation to remove Maduro, he quickly quashed the prospect of Machado stepping into Venezuela's presidency.
"I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country," Trump said at a news conference hours after the attack.
Rather than work with Machado, Trump announced plans to cooperate with Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president. She has since been sworn in as interim president.
"She's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again," Trump said of Rodriguez.
Maduro, who has long been accused of human rights violations, has been charged alongside his wife Cilia Flores with being part of a conspiracy to traffic drugs into the US.
While Trump's decision to topple Maduro has sparked jubilation among Venezuelans in exile, his military intervention — and quick dismissal of Machado — have raised concerns about his respect for Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
“I think [the Trump administration] basically bet on what they consider to be the most stable transition possible," said Freddy Guevara Cortez, a former opposition member in Venezuela's National Assembly.
"They think that they can convince the same members of the Maduro regime to dismantle themselves."
Guevera Cortez, who has lived in exile in the US since 2021, emphasised that he supports Trump's actions in Venezuela.
“Obviously, we would have preferred something else, but we also understand how complex the situation is," he said.
