Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said President Donald Trump's recent comments suggesting Venezuela could become the "51st state" of the United States should be interpreted as a political message directed at the Delcy Rodriguez regime rather than a literal proposal, while also defending closer ties between Washington and a future democratic Venezuela.
"I think he is sending a message to many people, and certainly to the regime," Machado said in an interview with CNN when asked directly about Trump's remarks.
