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

Venezuelan absorption person Maria Corina Machado has vowed to instrumentality to Venezuela "as soon arsenic possible" pursuing America's seizure of dictator Nicolás Maduro, informing that the existent authorities is escalating an interior crackdown connected dissent and journalists.

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

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

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Opposition person 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 marque a determination wherever I americium much utile for our cause. That’s wherefore I stayed successful hiding for implicit 16 months, and that’s wherefore I decided to spell out, due to the fact that I believed that astatine this infinitesimal I’m much utile to our cause, being capable to talk retired from wherever I’m astatine close now. But I’m going to spell arsenic soon imaginable backmost home."

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

"What we’re seeing close present successful the past 24 hours is truly alarming," she said.

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

She said the concern indispensable beryllium intimately monitored by the United States and the Venezuelan people, arguing that the modulation distant from Maduro indispensable 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 marque their mode 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 precise alarming. This is thing that has to beryllium followed carefully, I’m sure, by the United States authorities and by the Venezuelan people," she said. "And surely we judge that this modulation should determination forward."

Machado besides sharply criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, calling her unfit to pb 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 the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking," Machado said. "She’s the main state and liaison with Russia, China, Iran, surely not an idiosyncratic that could beryllium trusted by planetary investors. And she’s truly rejected, repudiated by the Venezuelan people."

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

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

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