Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was greeted by tens of thousands of cheering supporters as she made her way by car to Caracas on Sunday night (October 25), after she arrived home following several failed return attempts which have strained her ties with US President Donald Trump's administration.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado, who was prevented from challenging deposed leader Nicolas Maduro for the presidency in 2024, has been out of the country for 10 months and spent the previous year in hiding following the disputed election.

On Sunday morning, Machado appeared at a church in western Lara state and was greeted by bystanders who sang the national anthem and shouted "liberty!" as she left in an SUV, a Reuters witness said.

She then travelled to the capital in a journey that took eight hours because of crowds. By the time she neared Caracas, festooned in rosaries handed to her by followers, the highway was all but blocked by cheering supporters.

Machado's return was coordinated with the US, Panamanian and Colombian governments, according to a person briefed directly on her movements, who added Trump approved her return and was kept informed about it.

At the White House on Sunday, Trump said he did not know anything about Machado's return and suggested the US would continue to back Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

The White House and the State Department did not respond to Reuters questions on the matter.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO ON TOP OF VEHICLE, HOLDING VENEZUELAN FLAG AND WAVING TO SUPPORTERS AFTER RETURNING TO THE COUNTRY

2. MACHADO GREETING SUPPORTERS

3. VARIOUS OF MACHADO ON TOP OF VEHICLE WAVING TO SUPPORTERS