María Corina Machado appears at a Mass in Panama after WSJ report that Washington halted her return

Machado attended a Mass on Sunday for the earthquake victims at Panama's cathedral and said the pain has united Venezuelans, EFE reported. According to The Wall Street Journal, cited by NTN24 and Mediaite, Donald Trump asked Delcy Rodríguez not to act against Machado if she returned, but her plane had to turn back.

According to that report, Marco Rubio told her it was not the right time to return. Patricia Poleo said the Panama images disprove rumors that Machado was already in Venezuela. State TV did not mention Machado all week; opposition channels named her 1,062 times.

«Rubio told Machado that while the United States would not stop her from leaving, it was not the right moment to return amid the relief work after the earthquake.»— NTN24 (citing The Wall Street Journal), July 3, 2026 · watch

«María Corina is not only up against a regime, she is also up against Donald Trump, who has definitely blocked her.»— Patricia Poleo, July 5, 2026 · watch