The problem with Trump is this is completely believable. It fits right into his personality. The man is a massive narcissist. I approve of what he did with Maduro, but make no mistake about it. Everything Trump does is first and foremost to the benefit of Trump, including his actions in Venezuela. What is troubling about him currently allowing the Chavistas to remain in power is that there will continue to be issues with the nation's economy, civil liberties, and human rights. The opposition would immediately address these concerns. Trump's ego may end up with Venezuela trading one dictator for another.
Machado is a trained industrial engineer who was elected to Venezuela’s national assembly in 2010 and became a forceful critic of government abuse of power, one who was able to unite the fragmented opposition in the country. Machado and the opposition have gone to great lengths in recent months to make clear they are ready to lead the country, laying out a plan to restore basic liberties and the private economy and end the government’s cooperation with blackmarket drug smugglers. For now, Trump has cast that plan aside.
“It’s a tremendous strategic and moral mistake” for Trump to distance himself from Machado, says Ian Vásquez, an expert on Latin America at the Cato Institute. To say Machado doesn’t have support inside Venezuela is “patently untrue,” says Vásquez.
"He probably isn’t a big fan because she stole his Nobel Prize"
time.com