Nobel Peace Prize recipient Machado pledges to return to Venezuela, sees 'alarming' internal crackdown

Venezuelan guidance leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela "as soon arsenic possible" pursuing America's seizure of dictator Nicolás Maduro, informing that nan existent authorities is escalating an soul crackdown connected dissent and journalists.

Speaking to "Hannity" connected Monday, Machado said nan infinitesimal is now correct for her return aft spending much than a twelvemonth successful hiding. She secretly escaped Venezuela past period and traveled to Norway to person nan Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to President Donald Trump.

"Well, first of all, I’m readying to go backmost to Venezuela arsenic soon arsenic possible," Machado said. 

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Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures during an anti-government protestation connected Jan. 9, 2025, successful Caracas, Venezuela (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

"As I’ve ever said, Sean, each time I make a determination wherever I americium much useful for our cause. That’s why I stayed successful hiding for complete 16 months, and that’s why I decided to spell out, because I believed that astatine this infinitesimal I’m much useful to our cause, being capable to speak retired from wherever I’m astatine correct now. But I’m going to spell arsenic soon imaginable backmost home."

Machado said developments successful nan past 24 hours person been profoundly concerning, pointing to what she described arsenic a sweeping executive bid signed by Maduro connected nan aforesaid time he was captured and flown retired of nan state by U.S. forces.

"What we’re seeing correct now successful nan past 24 hours is really alarming," she said.

Machado said nan bid mandates nan persecution of Venezuelans who support Trump’s actions and claimed astatine slightest 14 journalists person been detained. A authorities of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders constabulary to "immediately statesman nan nationalist hunt and seizure of everyone progressive successful nan promotion aliases support for nan equipped onslaught by nan United States," nan matter of nan decree reads, according to Reuters.

She said nan business must beryllium intimately monitored by nan United States and nan Venezuelan people, arguing that nan modulation distant from Maduro must continue.

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Nicolás Maduro is seen successful handcuffs aft landing astatine a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavy equipped national agents arsenic they make their measurement into an armored car en way to a national courthouse connected Jan. 5, 2026, successful New York City (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)

"So this is very alarming. This is thing that has to beryllium followed carefully, I’m sure, by nan United States authorities and by nan Venezuelan people," she said. "And surely we judge that this modulation should move forward."

Machado besides sharply criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, calling her unfit to lead immoderate transitional authority. Rodríguez, who has been vice president nether Maduro since 2018, was sworn successful arsenic interim president connected Monday.

"Delcy Rodriguez, arsenic you know, is 1 of nan main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking," Machado said. "She’s nan main state and liaison pinch Russia, China, Iran, surely not an individual that could beryllium trusted by world investors. And she’s really rejected, repudiated by nan Venezuelan people."

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Venezuelan guidance leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters astatine a protestation against President Nicolás Maduro successful Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, nan time earlier his inauguration for a 3rd term. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Machado’s comments came conscionable 2 days aft nan Trump management announced that U.S. forces had captured the dictator and his wife, Cilia Flores, aft successful "large-scale" subject strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. The dictator and his woman are now being held successful New York while they await proceedings connected narco-terrorism charges.

Fox News’ Maria Lencki and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.