- Trump had previously ruled out the idea of backing Machado as Venezuela’s leader in the near term
- Machado, on her part, said the discussion was productive and described the gift as recognition of Trump’s stance
- A White House official later confirmed that the former US president intends to keep the medal
Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has handed over her Nobel Peace Prize medal to United States President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, in a move widely seen as part of her effort to influence Washington’s approach to Venezuela’s political future.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the meeting, which took place on Thursday, marked the first face-to-face engagement between Machado and Trump.
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A White House official later confirmed that the former US president intends to keep the medal, even though the Nobel honour itself legally remains with Machado.
Reacting via social media, Trump described the gesture as a sign of mutual respect, thanking Machado for presenting him with the medal and praising what he called their shared commitment to freedom.
Machado, on her part, said the discussion was productive and described the gift as recognition of Trump’s stance on the liberation of the Venezuelan people.
The development comes amid Machado’s ongoing efforts to secure stronger international backing against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump had previously ruled out the idea of backing Machado as Venezuela’s leader in the near term, arguing that she currently lacks the political support needed to assume power.
Although Machado handed over the physical gold medal that accompanies the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has maintained that the award itself cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked, meaning the honour officially remains hers.
Trump, who has long expressed interest in winning the Nobel Peace Prize, has repeatedly linked his diplomatic engagements to what he believes qualifies him for the award.
Earlier this week, however, he dismissed suggestions that he sought to receive Machado’s prize, insisting publicly that it rightly belonged to her.
Following her White House visit, Machado proceeded to Capitol Hill, where she held meetings with several US senators from both major political parties, many of whom have shown stronger support for her opposition campaign.
Meanwhile, White House officials reiterated that while Trump welcomed the engagement, he continues to hold what they described as a “realistic” view of Venezuela’s political landscape and Machado’s immediate prospects within it.
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