Speaking earnestly at a press conference, Machado praised Trump as “a decisive leader who understood the damage authoritarian regimes inflict on their people” and credited his administration with taking a firm stance against Nicolás Maduro’s government. She described the proposed monument as a lasting symbol of solidarity between Venezuela’s democratic movement and those abroad who, she said, “were willing to confront tyranny without hesitation.”

According to Machado, the statue—envisioned to stand on prominent public land overlooking the capital—would serve both as a tourist landmark and a reminder of what she called “the importance of moral clarity in foreign policy.” In exchange, she urged Trump to publicly recognize her as Venezuela’s legitimate president and to encourage allied leaders to do the same.

Critics questioned the propriety of linking recognition to such a gesture, but Machado defended the proposal as a serious effort to draw global attention to Venezuela’s crisis. “This is about gratitude, principle, and rebuilding our nation’s place in the world,” she said.

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5561891/trump-statue

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5820398&forum_id=2",#49578787)