Aidsel Frusciante

NEW: 🚨 Venezuela’s Opposition Leader @MariaCorinaYA rushes to liberal media to undermine President Trump’s diplomacy with @delcyrodriguezv, the interim President of Venezuela to jeopardize US investments in Venezuela 🚨 @SecRubio Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan @margbrennan on Sunday, Feb 1, 2026, where she grudgingly acknowledged some positive aspects of the Hydrocarbon Reform Law, a bold new law passed by Venezuela's National Assembly to open up the country's oil industry to privatization and greater private and foreign investment in @PDVSA. This smart legislation, which was pushed through under the interim Venezuelan government led by Delcy Rodriguez, & strongly aligned with President Trump's visionary America First agenda, creates massive opportunities for U.S. energy companies to step in, invest, & help revive Venezuela's crumbling oil sector after the decisive U.S. action that removed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Trump has been crystal clear: Venezuela's enormous oil reserves represent a tremendous win for American businesses, American energy independence, & rebuilding the region on strong, pro-market terms. When Brennan pressed Machado on whether she supports this pro-business reform, Machado hedged & attacked the legitimacy of the National Assembly itself, claiming she doesn't recognize it as a legitimate body, even though it's operating effectively & delivering real results under the current leadership backed by the Trump admin. Machado said: "Well, first of all, I do not recognize the National Assembly as a legitimate power. It has not been recognized by the Venezuelan people, not even by the U.S. government." When Brennan pointed out its effective operations, Machado doubled down: "Yeah, but whatever comes from that National Assembly has no legality. So, because this is an illegitimate power. So certainly, these so-called reforms introduce positive signs in terms of what we, the Venezuelan people, want in the future. We don’t want socialism. We don’t want the state owning every single, you know, facility or production center. We want private property, but that requires rule of law, long term guarantees for foreign investment, for local investment." While she paid lip service to rejecting socialism & embracing private property (ideas fully in line with Trump's policies), Machado undermined the pragmatic progress being made by questioning the interim leadership, including acting President Delcy Rodríguez, by tying her to the old "cartel" structures. She even cast doubt on whether skilled Venezuelans would return under the current setup, ignoring the real momentum & stability the Trump admin’s tough, no-nonsense approach has brought. Machado's nitpicking & refusal to fully embrace these Trump-aligned reforms come across as divisive & out of touch, especially since the Trump team is working pragmatically with Rodríguez's government to secure U.S. interests, drive oil-sector modernization, & deliver wins for American companies right now. The administration's smart, results-oriented strategy is already easing sanctions, attracting investment, & putting pressure on Maduro holdouts to deliver lasting change now that general oil licenses have been granted to some American oil companies. Machado, who previously met with President Trump & even presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize in gratitude for his decisive stand against Maduro, should be championing these pro-market victories instead of undermining the transitional framework that's making them possible. True freedom & prosperity for Venezuela will come from bold, decisive action & a focus on developing the nation’s rich oil & mineral reserves, not endless complaints about “legitimacy” when real progress is happening thanks to President Trump's leadership. The transition away from socialism is unstoppable, & @POTUS’s America First policies are leading the way. WATCH👇🏻

US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power following Washington's ouster of her predecessor Nicolas Maduro in January. u.afp.com/SbhA