Opposition leader Machado did not directly condemn a major oil agreement between Venezuela’s interim authorities and the Trump administration, but questioned whether acting president Rodriguez has the authority to negotiate it. Machado said the agreement’s scope remains unclear, including who will sign it, who will provide financing and guarantees, and how Venezuelans will benefit. She said Venezuela’s resources belong to its people, not Rodriguez’s "illegal regime," but did not call for the deal to be scrapped. Machado described the United States as a natural partner for developing Venezuela’s energy resources and urged strong, mutually beneficial partnerships between the two countries, companies, investors and workers. 03-SEP-2026 11:07 AM ET