Top State Department Official Accused of Going ‘Rogue. With Venezuela Policy: Report

A reported internal dispute inside the Trump administration has exposed growing tensions over U.S. policy toward Venezuela. It revolves around Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau, who is suspected by senior administration officials of repeatedly misrepresenting Washington’s position on exiled Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado about her return to the country.

According to a recent Axios report, at least seven senior administration officials believe Landau acted independently by conveying to foreign governments that the United States supported Machado’s efforts to return to Venezuela following the devastating June 24 earthquakes, even though the administration’s official policy was remaining neutral and discouraging her return.

“There is a widespread belief that Landau went rogue,” one administration official told the outlet. Another one said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unhappy with how the situation unfolded.

The controversy began after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 3,500 people so far. Tens of thousands remain unaccounted for. Machado, who has been living in exile in the United States without a valid Venezuelan passport, sought to return to her homeland to participate in humanitarian relief efforts.

However, Axios previously reported that Trump administration officials opposed those plans, describing them as “grotesque political opportunism” that could complicate emergency response operations already underway in the country.

The disagreement reflects broader strains between U.S. officials and Machado despite her longstanding opposition to the Venezuelan government. Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize, publicly dedicated the honor to President Donald Trump after he authorized the Jan. 3 operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his extradition to New York on narcoterrorism charges.

Following Maduro’s removal, the United States recognized Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s interim leader, a move that angered many Machado supporters who continue to push for new democratic elections after disputing the legitimacy of Venezuela’s 2024 presidential vote.

According to Axios, Machado contacted Landau and other senior U.S. officials shortly after the earthquake, explaining that she intended to travel first to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao before continuing to Venezuela.

Three sources told the outlet that during a conversation with Dutch Ambassador to the United States Birgitta Tazelaar, Landau appeared to advocate for Machado’s travel plans and suggested they reflected official U.S. policy backed by Rubio.

Based on that conversation, Dutch authorities reportedly approved Machado’s transit through Curaçao, where she intended to stay at the residence of U.S. Consul General Ramon Chico.

The situation quickly unraveled the following day when Tazelaar contacted Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Mike Kozak seeking clarification. Kozak reportedly informed her that Washington was not facilitating Machado’s return to Venezuela.

According to an official briefed on the conversation, the ambassador responded that she was “completely confused” because Landau had conveyed the opposite message just one day earlier.

Dutch officials then revoked Machado’s authorization while she was already aboard a flight, forcing her aircraft to return to Manassas, Virginia. Axios reported that Machado contacted U.S. officials while in the air and eventually spoke directly with Rubio, who reiterated the administration’s official position.

Through a State Department spokesperson, Landau denied that he had misrepresented U.S. policy, arguing that his comments had been misunderstood. The confusion reportedly resurfaced days later during discussions with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha. Axios obtained a text message in which Martínez-Acha wrote that he understood the United States would arrange for Machado to enter Venezuela. Landau reportedly replied, “Perfect description of our position.”

The deputy secretary later maintained that other parts of the exchange made clear Washington remained neutral regarding Machado’s travel plans. Machado subsequently traveled to Panama and attempted to board a Copa Airlines flight bound for Venezuela, but the airline declined to transport her after receiving objections from officials in both Washington and Caracas, according to Axios.

The report also describes additional friction inside the State Department. U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera reportedly told colleagues that Landau questioned him over discussions with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino concerning Machado’s travel.

Separately, three sources told the outlet that Landau had a heated exchange with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Venezuela John Barrett over his comments regarding Venezuela’s interim government. Despite the allegations, the State Department has publicly rejected suggestions of internal divisions.

“The State Department is in lockstep behind President Trump and Secretary Rubio in advancing the president’s foreign policy agenda,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement to Axios.

“Deputy Secretary Landau is a trusted member of the department’s leadership team. Any claims to the contrary are simply false.” According to Axios, U.S. officials continue monitoring Machado’s movements as they assess whether she will attempt to reach Venezuela through Colombia or instead travel to Europe.