Trump meets with Machado, discusses release of prisoners

US President Donald Trump will meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday. The White House also announced that the interim Venezuelan authorities have agreed to release political prisoners and are continuing negotiations on energy agreements with Caracas.

Regarding Iran, he said that Tehran's public statements differ from the messages it sends privately to Washington. According to his team, Trump prefers diplomacy but does not rule out a military solution.

In the area of monetary policy, according to spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, Trump has not ordered the Justice Department to investigate Federal Reserve Chairman Powell and supports the Fed's independence.

(reuters, mja)