Trump to meet with Venezuela’s opposition leader after praising ‘terrific’ Maduro loyalist

President Donald Trump is slated to meet with Venezuela’s opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado at the White House Thursday. 

Trump announced Jan. 3 that the U.S. had captured dictator Nicolás Maduro and that the U.S. would be running Venezuela until a safe transition could occur. But instead of endorsing Machado, Trump cast doubt on her abilities to lead the country. 

"I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader," Trump told reporters Jan.