John Bolton Slams Trump for Sidelining Machado in Venezuelan Transition: 'I Don't Think He Understands Anything'

Former national security adviser John Bolton said President Donald Trump does not understand the situation in Venezuela and is making a mistake by sidelining opposition leader María Corina Machado following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

In an interview Tuesday on CNN's "News Central," Bolton said Trump was "very confused" about Venezuela's political landscape. "I don't think he understands anything about what we just talked about," Bolton told host Kate Bolduan, arguing that Machado and her political movement, along with opposition-backed candidate Edmundo González, should lead a transition, rather than figures tied to Maduro's government.

Trump, speaking after the operation that led to Maduro's detention, said Machado lacked the support and respect within Venezuela to govern. "I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader," the president said. Trump has also stated that the United States would oversee Venezuela's transition and that American oil companies would help rebuild the country's petroleum infrastructure.

Bolton rejected that approach, saying the administration was wrong to consider working with Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has assumed power. "I think the administration is making a big mistake by throwing Machado under the bus, as they did on Saturday, and thinking that they can negotiate with Delcy Rodríguez somehow to have a stable transition," Bolton said, as reported by The Hill.

Bolton also warned that relying on Rodríguez and other Maduro loyalists would not produce stability. "It's the opposition in Venezuela that voted overwhelmingly against Maduro that clearly supports Machado and González," Bolton said. He added that the idea that remaining regime figures would negotiate their own exit from power was "badly misplaced."

Bolton, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and later as national security adviser in Trump's first term, was a key advocate of Washington's 2019 decision to recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader.

Upon the US military deployment in the Caribbean in August, Bolton has been a common figure in the news cycle offering commentary. Back in October, during an appearance on Focal Length in NewsX World he said that "overthrowing Nicolás Maduro is the only answer" for Venezuela's future and "for the security of the Western Hemisphere."

He also cautioned at the time that symbolic actions without a clear strategy risked leaving the authoritarian system intact.