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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Presents Nobel Peace Prize Medal to Trump at White House
Maria Corina Machado presents her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to sway US policy on Venezuela. Trump keeps the medal; the prize remains hers.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-16
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Presents Nobel Peace Prize Medal to Trump at White House

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump on Thursday during a White House meeting, in a move to gain influence over how the US shapes the political future of Venezuela.

A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal, which Machado awarded him as a symbolic gesture, while the Nobel Prize itself remains hers; according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked.

Trump expressed gratitude on social media, writing: “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 gift recognized his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.

The White House clarified that Trump maintains his assessment that Machado does not currently have the support needed to lead Venezuela, despite the symbolic gesture. Machado’s visit also included meetings with over a dozen US senators, both Republican and Democrat, where she sought allies in influencing Venezuela’s governance.

Machado’s efforts come after the US captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a high-profile operation this month. While Maduro’s second-in-command, Delcy Rodriguez, has assumed leadership, opposition figures like Machado are pushing to ensure Venezuela’s path toward democracy and international cooperation.

US-Venezuela dynamics remain complex. Trump has emphasized US interests in securing Venezuelan oil and participating in its economic reconstruction. While some political prisoners have been released under Rodriguez, observers warn that the scale of reforms and democratization remains uncertain.

Machado, who fled Venezuela via a dramatic seaborne escape in December, has faced political roadblocks at home, including a ban from running in the 2024 presidential election by a Maduro-aligned court. Nevertheless, she continues to push for reforms and greater foreign involvement in Venezuela’s political and economic affairs.

The White House lunch meeting, lasting over an hour, marked the first in-person interaction between Machado and Trump, highlighting her determination to shape US-Venezuela relations at a critical moment for the country’s political transition.
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