‘Hour Of Liberty’ Declared As Machado Rises After Maduro’s Fall

In the wake of Nicolás Maduro’s stunning removal by U.S. forces, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado took center stage Saturday, declaring, “The HOUR OF LIBERTY has arrived!” Her message, delivered in a bold and emotional statement, praised the United States for fulfilling its promise to deliver justice to the people of Venezuela.

“Faced with [Maduro’s] refusal to accept a negotiated exit, the government of the United States has fulfilled its promise to uphold the law,” said Machado, who just last month dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump. “The time has come for Popular Sovereignty and National Sovereignty to rule in our country.”

Her declaration followed the successful U.S. operation that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who now face federal charges in New York for narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking. As Venezuelans across the country erupted in celebration, Machado turned her attention to the July 2024 election results results Maduro attempted to nullify with a fraudulent victory.

According to ballot machine data, opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia won by a 2-to-1 margin. González, currently living in exile in Spain, has been named by Machado as the rightful President of Venezuela.

“Those of us who elected Edmundo González… demand that he immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander in Chief by all the officers and soldiers,” she said, rallying Venezuela’s fractured military to uphold the will of the people.

But even as the opposition celebrates, the road ahead may not be entirely theirs to chart.

At an 11 a.m. press conference at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States is now temporarily overseeing Venezuela’s transition, signaling that the U.S. military and diplomatic presence will remain on the ground until a stable handover is possible.

“We’re going to run Venezuela until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump said, making it clear that America won’t walk away only to see a new socialist regime fill the vacuum. “We’ve had decades of that. We’re not going to let that happen.”

The president also voiced cautious skepticism about Machado’s role in Venezuela’s future leadership, suggesting she may not have the necessary support to unify the country. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” he added.

Key Takeaways:

• María Corina Machado declared the fall of Maduro the “Hour of Liberty” for Venezuela.

• The U.S. will temporarily manage the country during a transition period to prevent another authoritarian takeover.

• Exiled opposition candidate Edmundo González is being positioned by Machado and others as the legitimate president, though Trump has not yet endorsed him.

• U.S. forces now effectively control Venezuela’s government functions until further notice.

What happens next will depend on whether Venezuela’s battered institutions can rise to the moment and whether U.S. leadership can keep the post-Maduro vacuum from being filled by more chaos.

One thing is clear: Maduro is gone, and the global socialist playbook just took a major hit.

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