Transcription
Please welcome Derek Morgan, executive vice president of the Heritage Foundation.
Thank you very much and welcome everyone to the Heritage Foundation. We're delighted that you joined us today and thank you for your patience as well as we uh undergo a historic event here. I have a few very brief words and then I have the privilege of welcoming our distinguished guest who will give remarks and then answer questions from the media.
US foreign policy should be driven by the pursuit of a strong, safer, and more prosperous America. As President Trump rightly recognizes, that means paying special attention to our hemisphere. We are blessed by so many of our neighbors who want to live in peace and respect their people. Because of our geographic, economic, and societal ties, malign developments in the Americas make the United States disproportionately vulnerable. If you don't believe that, then just ask some of the hundreds of thousands of American families who have lost loved ones to deadly drugs in recent years. or notice how China, Russia, and Iran have all invested heavily in establishing a strategic foothold in our hemisphere. Nicholas Maduro led an anti-American socialist regime that weaponized deadly drugs, mass migration, and trendagra against our towns and our cities. Meanwhile, he offered American adversaries an operating base. The American people, the Venezuelan people, and our entire hemisphere are far safer today because President Trump boldly sent US special forces in the Department of Justice to capture Maduro and to bring him to justice.
Securing our hemisphere also means working with our friends, our partners, and our allies. And the United States has many. We are honored to have one of those friends with us here today. Maria Karina Machado has been a brave fighter against Nicholas Maduro and the regime since it began to take form. Unlike many others in Venezuela and Washington, she recognized the danger from the very beginning. The Venezuelan people rewarded her principled opposition by casting their ballots amidst hearts harsh repression from the regime. Her efforts along with those of President Trump have brought Venezuela closer to the restoration of freedom, stability, and security. And we all hope to see the return of a legitimate elections in Venezuela in the near future.
We are honored to host history here at the Heritage Foundation and important conversations like the one you are going to participate in today. Here we work to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. I'm delighted to welcome to the stage Maria Karina Machado.
Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. So, such a pleasure to be here. very grateful to the Heritage Foundation and every one of you to join us this morning. I have to say that looking back what has happened in the last years and especially in the last days, it seems like a miracle to be sitting here in a free country in front of people that have also given their lives to fight for freedom and justice and democracy. And that's why I am very honored not only with the Heritage Foundation but with every single citizens of this country that has welcome us and has honored the immense struggle that the Venezuelan people has fought for so long. And finally, we can say that we are yes to the threshold of freedom.
On January 3rd, 2026, a new milestone was achieved and we are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy that will have not only immense impact in the lives of all Venezuelans, those who stayed in our country, those who have been forced to flee around the world, but that will have immense impact in in the region, in our hemisphere, and I will say even further in the whole world. Because what we have proven is that a people determined to be free, even without resources, without money, without the free press supporting, even facing the the most cruel tyranny can prevail because the force of conviction and the force of love is the strongest of all.
I am very proud to be part of this generation of Venezuelans. Most of them have never known what it means to live in freedom or what it means to be part of democratic society. But they have risked their lives, their loved ones, everything they have because they share that dream to live in a free country. It's all about human dignity. It's all about justice. It's all about love. And it's love for our children, love for our country, and love for freedom that has brought us here.
Now, we face a very complex and delicate process. And uh as Venezuelans, we are absolutely grateful to President Trump, his team, his administration, and the people of the United States because it took a lot of courage to do what he did. And he did it, yes, on behalf of the American people, but also be because he cares for the people of Venezuela. And he told me that yesterday. And I think that was the most important message I can bring back to my country. Tell the Venezuelan people that the American people and the president of the United States truly cares for the life, the well-being, and the future. I'm certainly talking about our political prisoners and all those have been persecuted, those who are all today in exiled. But I'm also talking about those children that are growing without their mothers because they had to flee to send food back, that are growing without education because public schooling in Venezuela works two days a week because teachers earn $1 a day and they need to get other jobs in order to eat that are growing without health and food and we have the generation that is uh suffering the highest levels of malnutrition in a century. That's Howard children right now. And uh it is because of them. It's because of saving lives that we're doing what we're doing right now. And that's why we're going to win. And the only thing I want to assure the Venezuelan people is that Venezuela is going to be free and that's going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the President Donald Trump of the United States.
So I'm very grateful to be here. We are facing challenging times ahead. Uh we are prepared to do what it takes as a legitimate government. uh Edmundo Gonzalez Surutia and I had been in communication permanently all these days and we feel not only with a mandate from the Venezuelan people and that's why I'm here and that's why what I convey to the president of United States but also with a huge task in front of us to to prepare with all our teams around the world and in Venezuela to take over government when the right m time arrives. So thank you very much and I'm more than willing to hear your questions now.
So um I believe there is a procedure that has been designed so because we thought there might be some interest today.
Thank you very much. Uh it's an honor to have you uh uh we're going to I'm going to start off with a question uh and then we're going to open it up to the press. Um my question uh to you Mr. Mashado is you know the Venezuelan people more than anyone and that's apparent from the very uh you know the Venezuelan people more than anyone and that's apparent from the very strong support that they've shown for you time and time again. Um I I wonder if you could tell us a little bit about I mean as you know uh your country has been destroyed by socialism uh Cuba, Russia and Iran looting uh your your nation your wealth. Do you see and the primary victim of this has been the Venezuelan people. Do do you see a future in which uh at all possible where a free and fair uh election and return to democracy in Venezuela restores anything but a strong staunched US ally and a country that leaves behind the shackles of socialism?
Well, thank you very much. Can you hear me? I'm like hearing like an echo here.
Yeah.
We hear you.
It's fine.
Okay. Well, um I I I am very glad. No, there's a problem with with an echo, right?
No, please.
So comfortable sitting out. You want me to to stand up? You prefer that I stand up? No.
That's better now. Okay. Look, I'm very glad we start with this issue because I I understand that there are many concerns regarding the transition in Venezuela compared to pre previous um events in other parts of the world. And and I always insist in the difference between what is Venezuela today compared to Middle East countries that went through change in in governments or regimes. We're talking about a society that is perhaps the most cohesive in the region. I I I would dare to say even in the world I I I ask you to think any other society in which 90% of the population wants the same. Not only that they reject the actual regime, but we want the same. There are not religious tensions within the Venezuelan society or racial or regional or political or social. I mean, there was one longing that brought Venezuelans together and that was we want our children back home. And it was that demand that I heard all around Venezuela in 2023 when we were moving forward to the primary process that made me realize how powerful it was to unite a country to tear down the barriers that the regime has built had built to divide us, you know, between rich and poor, black and white, left and right, uh, military and civilians. and we brought a country back together. That's why I always said, you know what, Madura is gonna go, we're gonna get rid of him one day or the other. What's important is the country that's coming afterwards. And it's a country based on shared values. We want to live with dignity. We we want to live with the the result of our our work, our effort. a society based in merit and not if you know the chabista who is in certain place at certain time. Women do not want handouts. They don't want to leave in a bo, you know, give their children a box of food that has a high cost because then you have to lower your head and repeat what the regime wants you to say or dress as they expect you to dress. They want to leave with their job. Well done. That's dignity and that's what Venezuela deserves and wants today and that's what we represent. So of course the result of this hard process will be a society based on these values, a society that is profoundly proame. And I want to insist on this. Deli Rodriguez, yes, she's a communist. She's the main ally and representation of the Russian regime, the Chinese and Iranians, but that's not the Venezuelan people and that's not the armed forces as well. So I am profoundly profoundly confident that we will have an orderly transition. This is a complex phase we are right now. Some of the dirty work is being done by them. But then the result of a stable transition will be a proud Venezuela who is going to be the best ally the United States has ever had in the Americas.
We're going to have a person come up and
Sorry for that. I'm gonna I'm gonna
Thank you very much.
Hi. Thank you very much for coming. Uh I realize there's a lot of interest. We're going to try to get to every question. I'm going to go through a list. Um there's outlets that have more than one reporter accredited. So I would like to please ask you to raise your hand so we can get one of our kind staff to bring the microphone to you um as I call you out. Um, Julio Vo from Telmundo, please Washington DC. Venezuela. Okay. I know. Okay. Okay. Venezuelan. I love Nick Shiffren from PBS, please.
Hola, Mar. Thank you so much. It's great to see you in person after seeing you virtually for the last few years. Two questions if I could, similar to what you just answered, but in English. Um, you had a very good meeting with the president yesterday, but he still maintains a positive relationship and positive language about Deli Rodriguez. Uh, the CIA director was just there. So, what's your message to the president and and to the United States when US policy is still to support the Chavismo government that still exists in Karakas? And I have to ask, your statement last night said that you felt like you were going to die at one point when you left Venezuela in the boat. Can you just tell us exactly what happened in that moment when you were in that boat? Thank you.
Well, um, regarding all the details of how and when I left Venezuela, I for for the protection of those involved and and help me get here. I I I I will uh wait until the regime is no longer in capacity to harm them to share that in detail. I Yes. Uh there was a certain moment in the trip in the boat where and uh I was hurt because the the waves were very high over six feet and there was a strong wind and uh we got lost in in in the ocean. We lost the the sign of of the GPS and the satellite phone stopped working and uh it Starlink antenna did not work as well all at the same time. So it was a very uh risky, dangerous and scary moment I have to say and it lasted several hours but uh at the end as as I say you know we we have work moved ahead and that's why I believe it is a miracle and I'm here and I know that someday I will be able to tell you all the details and Thank personally all those that risk their lives in order for this to happen because they knew it was very important, very important for our cause that I was able to leave my country at that moment.
regarding your first um uh question. Um look, this has nothing to do with a uh tension or decision between Deli Rodriguez and myself. This is about the cartel and justice. This is about a criminal structure that is the regime and the mandate of the Venezuelan people. That's what at stake at this moment. I'm just one member of a huge movement of millions of Venezuelans that have decided and are committed to be free. And I have no doubt that President Trump, his administration, and the people of the United States support democracy, justice, freedom, and the mandate of the people of Venezuela. I have absolutely no doubt, not only because it's in the well-being of Venezuelan people, but as I say, because it's crucial for the American people. The United States today is a safer nation after January 3rd. And once the regime is out and the transition is accomplished, the United States will not only be a safer nation, but one that will have more prosperity and and and strength in our hemisphere.
Can we get Eric Martin from Bloomberg, please? Oh, I see. Sorry. Uh, thank you. Maria Maria Corina would like to ask you about the timeline for uh democratic transition uh within Venezuela. Uh because obviously the constitution calls for within 30 days a new election. You've already um been recognized by a number of countries including the US in 2024 uh at Mundo Gonzalez as having won that election and accusations that the election was stolen by the Maduro regime. As you've mentioned, you overwhelmingly won the primary in 2023. Do you have an expectation is is your expectation that the next step in this process would be uh a new election in Venezuela? Do you expect that to happen in 2026 or what does the road map look like from getting from today's government by Lelie Rodriguez uh the government de facto that is in control to a democratically elected government. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you Eric. Well, if the Venezuelan constitution was were respected, we wouldn't have a thousand political prisoners. We wouldn't have 9 million people, you know, fleeing and and living around the country. We wouldn't have u our presidentelect exiled in Madrid. I mean, he would have taken uh power on January 9, 2024. So, 2025, sorry. So, we we realize that there's no uh rule of law in Venezuela. I don't know actually if you are aware Venezuela is currently in the last place globally in terms of rule of law out of 142 countries that have been evaluated by the world justice project Venezuela is in place 142 so so much for the constitution at the end it is a matter of strength and that was what made this process uh started on January 3rd happened I mean that was the main difference. They realized the regime realized that they are facing the strength of the people organized but mostly in this last phase the strength of um the democratic allies that are concerned about the the the structure of the regime of the criminal regime in Venezuela. So um this is a process that have several uh phases. we are in in one that it's complex as I said in which uh the regime is forced to dismantle themselves uh some of the structures that have been maintaining them in power starting with the repression uh system that requires not only that all political prisoners are liberated but that they are free the fact that you are not in a prison doesn't mean that you are free in Venezuelan They have been they have left uh the jail jails but they cannot speak to the press. They cannot leave the country and they are still terrified. All torture centers have to be closed and certainly there have to be uh guarantees for journalists to speak out and those who have left the country to come back and organize and and and make the will of the people be respected. Um Eric, believe me, I understand the urgency. I I have been speaking with the families not only of those that have been freed or liberated these la last hours, but especially with those that have not and that they don't know where their loved ones are right now. They they they have simply disappeared. I'm talking about hundreds of people. Actually, we found out in this last hours that there were more political prisoners than we thought because many families had been scared just even to the nouns that their loved ones h had been imprisoned or or disappeared by the regime. So some of those that have been liberated were not even registered by us. So and and this is still in place. I mean, there is a criminal structure of terror not only on the civilian population but also in the military. So that one of the main urgencies and priorities that have to take place in in in in the days to come is we need to dismantle that terror structure by the deim or laasa militar which are those that have committed crimes against humanity and that are those that have not only the civilian but the military uh under terror and neutralize. Once these steps are taken then we can move forward in the reinstitutionalization of the of our government and eventually we will have free and fair elections um and I'm talking about governors, mayors, national assembly. We need to have you know the will of the people be expressed freely. I I have to remember that um in the last election, presidential election where president elected Gonzalez won uh nearly 40% of Venezuelans that have a right to vote couldn't do it because the regime wouldn't allow them. That's one of the main things we need to correct. Every single Venezuelan living in Venezuela or abroad should have the right to vote uh as soon as possible.
Thank you, Gabby Proso from Beep, please. I didn't. I'm sorry. Donald from convers. Venezuela. toosina associate. Fore the monumental. Venezuela. So, this was stated until this was supposed to last until noon. It is now noon, but if everyone's game to stay, we stay. Um, Pao Moli from La Republica, please.
Thank you very much for doing this. You met in Rome with Pope Leo. Can you talk about what you discussed with him? If the OIC is willing and able to help you in this transition.
Thank you very much. That was a very important meeting. Um I'm a Catholic as you know and uh believe me during my trip I I prayed a lot. So I was able not only to to talk to him but but to present him some of the rosaries that I had brought with me during the trip. And um it was a a day that marked my life in a personal dimension, but also I I had a reassurance of of the Holy Father that he knows very well what's going on in Venezuela. He knows what the Catholic Church is being going through because of the persecution and pressure on our bishops and priests and and um I believe that uh he's not only concerned but uh actively uh helping and and supporting a a peaceful transitional process to take place. I think it was a very important uh and timely message to to Venezuelan society which is mostly as you know Christian. So so I think it it it couldn't have been in a better moment and it brought a lot of hope and reassurance to our people.
Um, thank you from please. No. Okay. Sorry. Sorry about that. No. Okay. International. Venezuela. Donald Trump. Venezuela. Prioritute. Rachel Campos. Okay. Real convention. Finding Rodriguez. Maxine Wallace, Washington Post, please. Maxine is not here. Washington Post. Washington here. The Washington Post. Okay. Uh then let's go with Carlangola, please. She's right next to you. I can hold it. Okay. Okay. Rodriguez, participating Rodriguez International Venezuel financ field. It's one day at a time. One hour at a time. Fore. Soch. take for granted. Salche. Can we get Vera from the Wall Street Journal, please? Vera is not here. Wall Street Journal. Okay, then we go with uh Ilia Calo from Venezuelan Rodriguez. Venezuela. initi foriness. Victoria. electoral sector. analysis. Venezuela. for you know impossible. By the way, Impossib Valente Alarez Trump. evolution. Criminal
We're gonna take a couple of questions in English. Edi uh from Politico, are you here? Please.
Thank you so much, Maria Corin. It's good to see you in person. As others have said, um today Venezuela accepted its first deportation flight since the operation on January 3rd. It followed a month of pauses. There's been some worry that Rodriguez could use migration cooperation with the United States as a way to defay pressure to go towards elections or to dismantle criminal networks in the country. Do you share those concerns that she could use an issue that is very central to this administration's foreign policy?
Thank you very much. We all know how this regime weaponized migration uh against several countries not only United States and um migration in Venezuela uh was was designed by the regime wasn't you know just spontaneously uh happened it it was designed by them and um and certainly they've tried to use our people as that trade bergen you know trade to to which is very very painful. Um, but I think everybody knows that the only way that we can have people on their own means and talking hundreds of millions, sorry, hundreds of thousands coming back is given the Venezuelan people the the hope, the certainty that we will have a democratic future and security in our country. It's not a matter of having all economic problems solved. people are willing to go back to be part of the solution but if they have you know hope that we will have a a freedom and and democracy in the future. So I think it is clearly in the best interest of the United States and those that are concerned about migration to have a transition take place as soon as possible because you will see millions coming back home.
I have several uh accredited journalists from the AP. I don't know who wants to take the question. Josh Goodman from Associated Press.
Hi Maria Green. Thank you. Uh lots of questions still about the meeting yesterday with President Trump. I just have three specific ones. Did you urge him not um did you urge him to seek the arrest uh of Dio Cavo? Did you urge him not to meet with Deli Rodriguez as he's indicated he would? And did you urge him to not allow Deli Rodriguez to reopen the Venezuelan embassy in Washington? Those are three specifics. Want to know what your position on those are. Thanks.
Well, I think I don't need to urge the president of specific things. I think he's very clear uh what has to be done right now. We we exchanged views about the implications of several actions and um I just want to tell you that uh I I was very impressed of the degree of of information he has how closely he follows uh the situation in Venezuela and how much he concerned he's concerned about the well-being of our people. Certainly we did talk about uh the political prisoners and and and their families and uh and the importance to stop uh repression uh you know from the root in Venezuela uh right now because you cannot talk of a transition even in its first steps if there's still repression in our nation.
uh the daily signal thank you so much wondering regarding your meeting with President Trump yesterday, do you believe that you earned the trust of the president and did you all specifically talk about a transition of power in Venezuela in which you would become president? Thank you.
Point again, it's this is not about me. It is about the will of the people and we certainly talk about uh how popular sovereignty has been expressed in Venezuela and absolutely terrible conditions in which we did and how the regime stole that result and and I think he he can certainly relate to that. So, um I I I I believe that um the point here is Venezuela has decided as a nation to be united first, to unite back again and and to fight for a right to be free. and uh he he he understands the moment and the implication for for I would say the whole hemisphere. We we talked a and I would say this I know you can imagine that about other countries and and specifically about Cuba and the implications of a transition to to democracy in Venezuela what would would mean to Cuba. And I insisted in something I've said many times that I believe that for the first time in history we will have the Americas free of communism, dictatorship and naroterrorism. For the first time in history and that's what's already happening. Sometimes you are so immersed in processes that you know it it's hard to understand the implication you know the historic implications. Imagine what this will mean to have these dictatorships finally gone in Venezuela, in Cuba, and Nicaragua. I mean, this is equivalent to the fall of the of the Berlin wall in the Americas. So, this is huge from a historic perspective. And this is happening as we speak.
Kono NHK Japan. Japan media. Okay. Can we get Mr. Rosen from Newsmax also not here? Okay. Jesus, please. Okay. Um, yeah. Um, I was wondering if President Trump is uh he's aware uh of how many political prison have been released so far. I mean, it's less than 10%. And I was wondering if he he's aware of of of that. And if he he's told you some strategies that he will do to enforce to I mean to to make them release in the next uh months or weeks or something.
Certainly aware, President Trump is certainly aware of uh what's happening with the political prisoners, how they um are not being uh complying as they were expected h and committed to see that happened. I have no doubt. um well what specifically he he plans to do and you know we we didn't get involved into that but but I trust his word that that's something it will take place and as you as you know Jesus and we've talked about this this is one of certainly my top priorities in right now certainly we do have another media outlet from Japan uh if you're in the room please raise your hand. No. Okay. Um, uh, AFP there. Washington. Why not? Venezuela. control. Grand control. Julio. No. Yes. Venezuela. Hello. Rodriguez Rodriguez. participle. One last question for Mr. Martinoas, please. Marco Venezuela. Venezuela. experience. He Venezuelan.
Thank you very much to file out and uh then we'll all or orderly come out the bat. But thank you very much. Let's uh welcome or thank Miss Machado for her time.