Trump has repeatedly declined to position María Corina Machado as Venezuela’s next president, instead endorsing interim leader Delcy Rodríguez following the January 2026 U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro. Administration officials have cited intelligence assessments questioning Machado’s domestic support and governing capacity, while prioritizing oil-sector agreements and stability with Rodríguez’s government. Tensions surfaced publicly when Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio advised Machado against an immediate return after June 2026 earthquakes, describing her efforts as a potential distraction. Machado has continued to praise Trump and push for 2027 elections, but the administration has shown no movement toward endorsing her candidacy. These consistent signals of preference for a managed transition without Machado explain the strong trader consensus against an endorsement.