Washington: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a high-profile meeting at the White House on Thursday, a symbolic gesture aimed at acknowledging his support for Venezuela’s democratic movement and strengthening bilateral engagement on her country’s future.
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Trump welcomed Machado in what was described as a rare and significant encounter, underscoring the evolving relationship between Washington and the Venezuelan opposition following the US-led operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement on his social media platform, Trump praised Machado and the gesture, calling it a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.” He described Machado as “a wonderful woman who has been through so much” and thanked her for presenting the Nobel medal to him.
Machado, dressed in a white suit, arrived at the White House earlier in the day for talks that top US officials say could shape future US policy toward Venezuela. After the meeting, she told reporters that she had handed the Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump as a mark of recognition for what she described as his “unique commitment” to Venezuelan freedom.
However, officials from the Norwegian Nobel Institute have reiterated that while a physical Nobel medal can change hands, the official title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked once awarded, under the foundation’s statutes.
Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her long-standing efforts to promote democratic rights and advocate for a peaceful transition from authoritarian rule in Venezuela. Her decision to present the medal to Trump comes amid complex political dynamics in Venezuela, where Maduro’s arrest has created a power vacuum and ongoing debates over democratic transition and leadership.
Despite the symbolic gesture, the White House has not issued a formal endorsement of Machado as Venezuela’s future leader. A White House spokesperson underscored that Trump holds a “realistic” view of the Venezuelan political landscape and believes Machado currently lacks the broad domestic support needed to lead the nation in the immediate term.
Machado also met with US lawmakers during her visit, emphasizing the urgency of political transition and continued international support for democratic processes in Venezuela.
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