WASHINGTON — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a private White House meeting on Thursday, calling the gesture a symbol of appreciation for what she described as Trump’s “unique commitment” to Venezuelans’ freedom.
It was the first in-person meeting between Machado and Trump, coming weeks after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and brought him to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges, according to reporting by Reuters and other outlets.
Trump publicly thanked Machado for the medal in a social media post, describing it as “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect,” while also calling her “a wonderful woman who has been through so much.”
Machado later addressed supporters gathered outside the White House, telling them they could “count on President Trump,” according to the Associated Press. Speaking to reporters in English, she said the medal was a tribute to US support for Venezuelan democracy and drew a historical parallel to symbols exchanged between revolutionary-era leaders in the Americas.
The move immediately raised procedural questions. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has stressed that while a physical medal can change hands, a Nobel Prize “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred” once awarded. The Nobel Peace Center echoed that distinction in public messaging this week.
Machado, whose coalition claims victory in Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election, has sought stronger US recognition of her movement. But Trump has so far declined to endorse her as Venezuela’s new leader, instead engaging with Delcy Rodríguez — Maduro’s former vice president — who is serving as acting president.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a “remarkable and brave voice” and said Trump expected a frank discussion about conditions in Venezuela, but no policy shift was announced immediately after the meeting.
The encounter unfolded against rapid US moves affecting Venezuela’s oil sector and broader bilateral ties. Reuters and AP have reported on steps involving Venezuelan oil assets and outreach between Washington and Rodríguez’s interim government, including a high-profile phone call and signals from Caracas about restoring diplomatic channels.
Machado also met US lawmakers during her Washington visit, as her supporters chanted “María, presidente,” underscoring the internal Venezuelan dispute over who should lead any political transition now that Maduro is in US custody
