Trump, Machado to meet as supporters urge action against Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition supporters gathered at the White House ahead of a meeting between leader Maria Corina Machado and Donald Trump. The rally follows the capture of Nicolas Maduro and the US taking control of Venezuela's oil reserves.

Supporters Rally for Venezuelan Opposition at White House

Ahead of the meeting between Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and Donald Trump, supporters gathered outside the White House on Thursday (local time), urging action against Venezuela's current regime. US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will meet today at White House. Supporters gathered in the US capital, waving flags and chants echoing calls for freedom and political change in their homeland.

A supporter, Adriana Molinero, told ANI, "I have been here in the US for three years, and I'm here right now because I just want to go back and be part of the reconstruction of my country. I have a lot of friends who fought, who died, who are in prison right now just because they want to think differently... We just want freedom and want to express ourselves. I want to thank Maria Corina Machado. She has been the greatest leader in Venezuela right now, and to Donald Trump and Marco Rubio for helping our cause."

Another supporter, Isabel Hayek, told ANI, "I truly trust in Maria Corina Machado. She's a big representation of the belief of all Venezuelans. She's a real leader... She is going to make President Trump understand that the people respect her, and the people respect him, and unfortunately, the current usurper of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, is not the person that Venezuela needs, wants, and deserves. We deserve Donald Trump, we deserve Maria Corina Machado, we thank Marco Rubio."

Trump, Machado Comment on Political Situation

Addressing reporters earlier, the US President described her as a "very nice woman," but said she "doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country" required to lead the nation. Machado, for her part, had earlier said on the Fox News programme Hannity that she wanted to "personally" thank Trump for the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Following Maduro's Capture

Meanwhile, the United States has made its first sale of Venezuelan oil valued at USD 500 million, according to the Donald Trump administration, as reported by the New York-based news outlet Semafor. The development comes following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, the former leader of the South American country 11 days ago.

Following this, Trump said that US is taking control of Venezuela's oil reserves and recruit American companies to invest billions of dollars to refurbish the country's gutted oil industry, CNN had reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)