Trending Now - Machado Leads Massive Madrid Rally, Rejects Sánchez Meeting

WHO:

ABC News - María Corina Machado, Venezuela's exiled opposition leader

ABC News - Pedro Sánchez, Spain's progressive Prime Minister

ABC News - Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim President

The Guardian - Donald Trump, President of the United States

The Guardian - Jorge Rodríguez, national assembly chief and brother of Delcy Rodríguez

The Guardian - Omar González, ally of Machado

ABC News - Grehlsy Peñuela, Venezuelan migrant in Spain

WHAT:

ABC News - Machado drew several thousand supporters to a rally in Madrid on April 16th, 2026.

ABC News - Machado declined a meeting with Sánchez during her European tour.

ABC News - Machado criticized Rodríguez’s government, calling it “chaos, violence and terror.”

The Guardian - Machado's movement is believed to have beaten Maduro in the 2024 presidential election.

The Guardian - Trump backed Rodríguez, who is not elected, in exchange for concessions involving Venezuela’s resources.

The Guardian - Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize in January 2026.

The Guardian - Machado stated, “Venezuela will be free” during an interview before the rally.

WHERE:

ABC News - The rally took place in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain.

The Guardian - Machado met with leaders in France, Italy, and the Netherlands during her European tour.

WHEN:

ABC News - The rally occurred on April 16th, 2026.

The Guardian - Maduro was captured on January 3rd, 2026.

The Guardian - Machado slipped out of Venezuela in December 2025.

WHY:

ABC News - Machado believes in the need for democratic elections in Venezuela.

The Guardian - Machado's supporters are frustrated at being sidelined from Venezuela’s political future after Maduro's capture.

HOW:

ABC News - Machado is in permanent contact with officials in the Trump administration regarding Venezuela.

The Guardian - Rodríguez has consolidated power by purging Maduro allies and attempting to portray herself as a competent technocrat.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 21:13 UTC)

María Corina Machado, Venezuela's exiled opposition leader, drew several thousand supporters to a rally in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, on Thursday, where she criticized Delcy Rodríguez’s government, calling it “chaos, violence and terror.” During her European tour, Machado declined a meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and emphasized her belief in the need for democratic elections in Venezuela, stating, “Venezuela will be free.” Meanwhile, President Trump has backed Rodríguez, who is not elected, in exchange for concessions involving Venezuela’s resources, as Machado remains in permanent contact with officials in the Trump administration.