Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Many supporters, holding phones to capture the moment, chanted her name in Spanish: "Maria!" "Maria, here!" At one point, Machado climbed over metal barricades to mingle directly with the crowd.
Media reports that Hegseth had given the directive to kill all those on board the vessel during the 2 September strike have renewed concerns about the legality of US military strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.
Tarik William Saab told news agency AFP that María Corina Machado - who has been living in hiding to avoid arrest - was accused of "acts of conspiracy, incitement of hatred, and terrorism".
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Sunday, November 16, 2025, announcing that the US intends to consider the group a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) from November 24.
Asked if the US was going to war against Venezuela, the US president told CBS' 60 Minutes: "I doubt it. I don't think so. But they've been treating us very badly."
The provocation, contained in an official statement issued by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, comes as joint military exercises between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago are underway in regional waters.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, saying intelligence officials had verified that the vessel was operating as part of an illegal trafficking route. He shared an aerial video showing a missile hitting a small boat, which immediately exploded upon impact. The president added that no American troops were injured in the operation.
Trump said the vessel had been transporting narcotics from Venezuela and was headed toward the United States, claiming that “big bags of cocaine and fentanyl” were left scattered in the ocean after the attack.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media, describing the deceased as "Narcoterrorists" and emphasizing that no US forces were harmed.
This move follows charges brought during Donald Trump’s presidency, which accused Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials of narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking.