White House frustrated by Machado push to return to Venezuela after quakes
Machado’s bid to go back to Venezuela after twin quakes has irritated Washington as the death toll climbed past 188 and the U.S. rushed aid and rescue teams.
Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, with magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.5, killing at least 188 people, injuring at least 1,520 and leaving about 200 trapped. The government declared a state of emergency and shut Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas after the damage, while aid groups warned the country’s already strained system could face even more pressure.
Maria Corina Machado has reached out in recent days to officials at the White House, the State Department and members of Congress, asking for help to get back to Venezuela. A White House official called the appeal frustrating for senior officials: “We support her returning to Venezuela, but does it have to be 24 hours after a massive humanitarian catastrophe where the death toll continues to climb?”
Machado left Venezuela in December after defying a decade-long travel ban to collect the Nobel Peace Prize, following more than a year in hiding after the disputed 2024 election. Since then, she has mainly been based in the United States. Before the earthquakes, she had said she expected to return home by the end of this year.
Machado's supporters had hoped she would play a central role in governing after Nicolas Maduro's grip weakened, but Donald Trump instead backed Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former deputy, saying Machado did not have the support needed to lead in the short term.
The State Department has mobilized search-and-rescue teams, is coordinating deliveries of medical supplies and has unlocked $150 million in humanitarian aid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised a “big, fast, effective” response.
Oxfam estimated that 7.9 million people needed assistance in Venezuela even before the quakes. Starlink will provide free service in Venezuela for a month and work to deploy terminals and restore connectivity in the hardest-hit areas, including La Guaira and other affected regions.
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