President Trump has prioritized pragmatic cooperation with interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez and remnants of the prior administration to stabilize oil flows and regional security, while publicly stating that María Corina Machado lacks sufficient domestic support and respect to lead. Recent White House meetings, including Machado’s January presentation of her Nobel medal, produced personal praise but no presidential endorsement. Administration officials have advised Machado against an immediate return, and Trump has hosted other opposition figures at key events. These patterns, alongside the absence of any formal backing through mid-May 2026, underpin trader consensus that an endorsement for the 2026 presidential contest remains unlikely.