Senior Trump administration officials are sharply criticizing Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado over her efforts to return to Venezuela following last week's devastating earthquake, calling the moves a distraction from U.S.-backed relief efforts. "It's political opportunism and it's grotesque," one senior administration official said. Another added: "She wants a photo op of her passing out our aid. This is about her interests." Officials said Machado has repeatedly lobbied Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior U.S. officials to facilitate her return and sought a role in administering aid, but the administration rejected the request. Machado's attempts to reach Venezuela from Curaçao and later Panama were both unsuccessful, creating what officials described as unnecessary diplomatic complications. Source: Axios