Senators left a meeting Thursday with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado with plans to visit her country — but differing views on when she should return herself.
Why it matters: President Trump's forceful removal of Nicolas Maduro continues to split the Senate.
The big picture: More than a dozen senators packed into the meeting and praised Machado's courage. But they disagreed over how Venezuela should transition to democracy — and when it would be safe for her to go home.
What they're saying: "That lady's got guts, right?" Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told Axios. "I think she needs to be in the country. I think she needs to rally the Venezuelans."
- "She did indicate that she wants to go back as soon as possible — which I advised, in Spanish, is not a good idea," said Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)."I just think it's dangerous," Gallego added.
- "We would rather have respected leaders of the opposition take their time to go back and be safe."
Driving the news: Machado met earlier in the day with Trump and said afterward on Fox News that she gifted him her non-transferable Nobel Peace Prize.
- "She didn't mention that, and neither did anybody else," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said.
What we're watching: Senators are already discussing a potential CODEL to Caracas.
- "I discussed maybe senators going down to visit to show support for the opposition," Gallego said. "I'll do the interpretation."
- Scott is also on board. "I think it's important to go, but we've got to make sure it's safe.
"The bottom line: Democrats and Republicans are united in celebrating Machado — but not in embracing the Trump administration's approach.
- "A large group of Democrats were fawning on Machado," Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said. "Yesterday, they were trying to say that what President Trump did was wrong."
