Venezuelan Opposition Leader Hailed Abroad, Scorned by Trump

Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado celebrated a major political victory this week. The candidate she backed, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won the country's presidential election. The result marks the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government. Machado, a prominent activist, was herself barred from running in the election. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Machado. In a statement, he claimed the Nobel Peace Prize nominee lacks "support or respect" inside Venezuela. The contrasting reactions highlight the complex international view of Venezuela's political change. Machado is a celebrated leader among many foreign allies but remains a divisive figure at home and with some foreign critics.