Why Trump Refused to Back Venezuela's Machado: Fears of Chaos, and Fraying Ties

Even before the lightning-quick U.S. raid on Venezuela's capital, President Trump had made a crucial decision about what would happen once the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro, was out of the picture.

Mr. Trump would not be throwing his support behind María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who led a successful election campaign against Mr. Maduro in 2024 and had the greatest popular legitimacy to lead the nation.