The Trump administration's official stance regarding Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is to prevent her from returning to Venezuela. However, Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau is reported to have miscommunicated this policy to other countries on two occasions, according to seven senior administration officials. This situation reportedly caused internal disputes within the State Department and confusion internationally, particularly among Machado's supporters.
The controversy arose following the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela that resulted in over 3,500 fatalities. Machado, who is currently living in exile in the U.S. without a valid Venezuelan passport, expressed a desire to return to Venezuela to assist with relief efforts. U.S. officials intervened, labeling her travel plans as "gross political opportunism" that could hinder recovery efforts.
Landau, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, is suspected of opposing U.S. policy towards Venezuela and having close ties to Machado's circle. He allegedly advocated for Machado's travel to Curacao and then Venezuela during a conversation with the Netherlands' ambassador to the U.S., Birgitta Tazelaar. Following this conversation, the Dutch authorities initially approved Machado's travel.
However, on June 25, Tazelaar learned from U.S. assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Mike Kozak that the U.S. was not supporting Machado's travel, leading to confusion and a reversal of the Dutch approval while Machado was en route. After being informed of the reversal, Machado contacted U.S. officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, who reiterated the official U.S. policy.
Landau later denied misrepresenting U.S. policy, asserting that he had been misunderstood. He also reportedly miscommunicated the same sentiment to Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, who documented their conversation in a text message. By June 28, Machado was in Panama, attempting to travel to Venezuela, but faced obstacles due to U.S. and Venezuelan officials' disapproval.
U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera indicated that Landau had previously expressed concerns about Cabrera's communication regarding Machado's travel. Tensions escalated within the department, with Landau reportedly confronting U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Venezuela John Barrett over perceived favorable statements about the interim government in Caracas.
U.S. officials are currently monitoring Machado's movements in Panama and are preparing for the possibility of her traveling to Colombia or Europe. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott dismissed claims of conflict involving Landau, asserting that the department supports President Trump's foreign policy agenda.