Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former US President Donald Trump on Thursday during a White House meeting, calling it a recognition of his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
In a social media post, Trump described the gesture as “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect” and thanked Machado for presenting the award. A photo released by the White House showed Trump holding up the gold medal in a large frame, which bore an inscription reading: “To President Donald J. Trump In Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength — Personal Symbol of Gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan People.”
In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!”
Machado described the meeting as “excellent” and said the medal was intended as a symbolic expression of appreciation for Trump’s efforts in supporting Venezuelan freedom. The meeting comes weeks after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and charged him in a drug-trafficking case, an operation that has opened a new chapter in Venezuela’s political future.
While Machado handed Trump the physical medal, the Nobel Peace Prize remains hers, as the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified that the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked. Before the White House meeting, the Nobel Peace Center emphasised that while “a medal can change owners, the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.” It said in a statement last week that “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Trump himself had expressed interest in winning the award prior to Machado receiving it and reportedly complained when he was passed over.
The White House said the meeting, which lasted slightly over an hour, marked the first in-person encounter between Machado and Trump. She also met with over a dozen US senators on Capitol Hill, where she found allies among both Republicans and Democrats.
Trump, while welcoming Machado, did not endorse her as Venezuela’s next leader. He continues to engage with Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president, who is acting as the country’s interim leader. Trump has praised Rodríguez for being cooperative while maintaining U.S. interests, particularly regarding access to Venezuela’s oil and economic reconstruction.
Machado, who fled Venezuela in December during a daring seaborne escape, is using her visit to Washington to ensure she has a role in shaping the country’s political transition. She has emphasised that repression in Venezuela remains severe, even under Rodríguez, and called for democratic elections.
During her US visit, Machado highlighted the importance of international support for Venezuela’s democratic transition, even as debates continue over the legitimacy of recent election results and the interim government’s actions.
The presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump, while largely symbolic, underscores Machado’s efforts to strengthen US backing for her political agenda and maintain visibility for Venezuela’s opposition movement at a critical moment in the country’s history.
Melissa Enoch
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