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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Gives Nobel Medal to Trump in White House Meeting

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting. She described the gesture as a historic symbol of gratitude for his support of Venezuelan freedom and democracy. Trump accepted the medal, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect" on social media. The meeting occurs in the context of recent US military action in Venezuela that led to the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro.

Key Points: Machado Gives Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

  • Machado presented medal as symbolic gesture
  • Called it recognition for Trump's commitment
  • Trump accepted and called it an honor
  • Nobel Committee says prizes cannot be transferred
  • Meeting follows US strikes and capture of Maduro
3 min read

Venezuelan opposition leader Machado says she "presented" Trump with Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel medal to Donald Trump, thanking him for his support of Venezuelan freedom.

"I presented the President of the United States the medal...the Nobel Peace Prize - Maria Corina Machado"

Washington DC, December 16

Following the much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump, almost two weeks after US strikes on Caracas, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado on Thursday said that she had presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump at the White House, describing the gesture as recognition for his support for Venezuelan freedom and democratic efforts.

Speaking to reporters following her meeting with Trump, Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in championing democratic rights and a peaceful transition in Venezuela, said that she gave the medal as a symbol of appreciation for his "unique commitment to our freedom".

"I presented the President of the United States the medal...the Nobel Peace Prize, and I told him this: 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington's face on it. Bolivar, since then, kept that medal for the rest of his life. It was given as a symbol of brotherhood to showcase the relation between the people of the US and Venezuela," Machado said.

"Two hundred years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal, in this case the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize, as a recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom," she added.

President Trump also acknowledged Machado's gesture, calling it "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect" in a post on Truth Social and thanked her for the medal.

"It was my Great Honor to meet Maria Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, Maria!" the post read.

The White House, in a post on X, also confirmed that Trump had accepted the Nobel Peace Prize medal.

"President Donald J. Trump meets with Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor," the White House said in its post.

However, according to statements from the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute, once a Nobel Prize is awarded, it cannot be withdrawn, shared, or passed on to another individual, and the decision is permanent and remains in effect indefinitely.

The meeting between Machado and Trump took place amid heightened US-Venezuela relations, following recent developments, including the US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

On January 3, the US launched a "large-scale strike" in the South American country, which led to the capture of its leader, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies" in the Southern District of New York and are currently facing trial.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
I respect her struggle, but giving away a Nobel Prize medal feels wrong. The prize was awarded to HER for her work. It's not a gift to be passed around, no matter the intention. The Nobel Committee's statement makes it clear. The symbolism is nice, but the act itself undermines the award's sanctity.
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Aman W
As an Indian, I see this and think about our own non-aligned history. Powerful countries intervening in others' politics is always a double-edged sword. The capture of Maduro feels like regime change by another name. Hope the Venezuelan people truly benefit and it doesn't lead to more instability. 🤔
S
Sarah B
The whole situation is very dramatic. From military strikes to capturing a president to gifting a Nobel medal... it's like a political thriller. I just hope the ordinary citizens there get some peace and normalcy after all this. The medal is just a prop in a much larger, and messier, geopolitical game.
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Karthik V
The historical reference is interesting, but the context is completely different. Bolivar was a liberator, not a foreign leader who launched strikes on another country. The gesture seems more about political messaging and securing continued US support than pure "brotherhood". Very clever PR move, I must say.
M
Meera T
Whether you agree with the action or not, you have to admire her courage. Standing up to a regime like Maduro's takes immense bravery. If she feels this gesture helps her cause and honors an ally, who are we to judge? The road to democracy is often unconventional. More power to her! 🙏

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