Trump officials slam Venezuelan Nobel winner as ‘spoiler’ – Politico

The White House has reportedly accused Maria Corina Machado of undermining national security goals

White House officials have grown “frustrated” with anti-Maduro Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado over her remarks on the timing of elections in Venezuela, Politico reported on Friday, citing sources.

Earlier this week, Machado, an opposition leader who backed the US intervention in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro in early January, told Politico that voting could be implemented fairly quickly, suggesting nine to ten months as a possible timeframe.

According to a White House adviser who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity, Machado’s comments “rubbed some people the wrong way,” with the official accusing her of “undermining the president’s policy success,” including the release of political prisoners, joint law-enforcement operations between the two countries, and other areas of cooperation.

“All Maria Corina Machado does is try to negate all of this… she’s selfish,” the adviser said. “None of this is ‘Operation Maria Corina Machado.’ It’s ‘Operation US national security,’ which is not tied to her in any way. She’s a spoiler and she’s working against US national security goals.” 

Another person close to the White House said the former congresswoman “shouldn’t be opining on a time frame,” adding that “[24] months is a more realistic time frame.” 

In a statement to Politico, the White House stressed that elections cannot happen “overnight” and would be held “at the right time,” adding that US President Donald Trump’s top priority is rebuilding the country before an election takes place.

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Machado’s office dismissed the criticism as “media noise” and rumors, insisting that the opposition is “closely aligned” with the US government “in our approach.” 

Trump previously questioned Machado’s suitability for office, saying she “doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country.” 

Machado, a former congresswoman with longstanding ties to Washington who has led anti-government protests, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December for what the committee described as her struggle for a peaceful democratic transition. She later gifted the medal to Trump, though the Nobel Committee has insisted that the prize “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others.”