Marco Rubio Calls For Fair Elections After Meeting With Venezuelan Opposition Leader

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down Tuesday with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and later declared that free elections must eventually come to the South American nation.

During a Fox News appearance on “Hannity” that same evening, Rubio laid out a three-stage blueprint for Venezuela’s future, according to a State Department transcript.

“Ultimately, there will have to be a transition phase,” Rubio told host Sean Hannity. “There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela, and that point has to come.” He said the initial stabilization stage is “largely achieved” and that the country has entered a recovery period, with Venezuelan crude now shipping to American refineries and oil revenue flowing into U.S. Treasury-controlled accounts. (RELATED: Marco Rubio Lays Out How Trump Admin Will Gauge Venezuelan Cooperation)

Delcy Rodríguez took over after Maduro’s capture, and she previously served as his vice-president.

The closed-door sit-down at the State Department centered on how to rebuild democratic governance in Venezuela. The discussion touched on future elections, government restructuring, and what it would take to attract outside investment, the Miami Herald reported, citing people with knowledge of the talks. Machado posted on social media that the session was “excellent” and thanked Rubio for his “commitment to democracy, freedom and the well-being of the Venezuelan people.”

Excelente reunión con el Secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio (@SecRubio).
Gracias por su compromiso con la democracia, la Libertad y el bienestar de los venezolanos.

Se acerca el día en que reuniremos a nuestras familias en Venezuela!

Avanzamos! pic.twitter.com/cFdbQkPepZ

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) March 31, 2026

Machado’s party, Vente Venezuela, has said she plans to head back to the country “in the coming days,” though no firm date exists, according to MercoPress. Sources close to Machado and cited by Venezuelan outlet Efecto Cocuyo said conversation also covered safe passage for Machado and other political exiles, according to MercoPress.

The meeting is notable given the fractured relationship between Machado and the Trump administration. The New York Times reported that Rubio himself advised Trump against backing Machado after Maduro’s January capture, arguing it could further destabilize the country. A separate Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) assessment shared with senior officials drove Trump’s decision to install Rodríguez instead, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Still, Machado remains Venezuela’s most popular political figure. A recent Gold Glove Consulting survey found 67 percent of respondents would vote for her, compared to just 25 percent for Rodríguez, Foreign Policy reported.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has kept Rodríguez on a short leash. Federal prosecutors in Miami assembled draft corruption and money laundering charges against her in March to ensure compliance with Washington’s demands, Reuters reported.

“We have to be patient, but we also can’t be complacent,” Rubio said on Fox News.

The Daily Caller reached out to the U.S. Department of State for comment but has not heard back as of publication.