Machado Meets Trump at White House Amid Venezuela Power Shift, Oil Deals

• Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met US President Donald Trump at the White House for discussions.
• The meeting follows Trump's positive remarks about interim president Delcy Rodríguez and a shift in US focus towards economic demands, particularly Venezuelan oil.
• Trump previously stated Machado lacks sufficient domestic support and has expressed interest in her Nobel Peace Prize, which she offered to share.
• The US seized a sixth oil tanker, the Veronica, in the Caribbean and finalized a $500 million Venezuelan oil sale, emphasizing control over oil exports.
• Machado aims to re-emphasize democratic transition, while Venezuela, under US pressure, released dozens of political prisoners.

Why It Matters: Machado met Trump to push for democratic transition amidst US focus on Venezuelan oil and current leadership.