In a striking gesture symbolizing shared struggles for freedom, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a private lunch at the White House on January 16. Speaking to reporters in Washington afterward, Machado described the closed-door meeting as a pivotal moment linking two centuries of liberty fights.
‘I gave the Nobel Peace Prize medal to the President of the United States,’ Machado declared, emphasizing the medal’s significance. She drew a powerful parallel to a 200-year-old event when French General Marquis de Lafayette gifted Simon Bolivar, Venezuela’s independence hero, a medal featuring George Washington. ‘Two hundred years later, Bolivar’s people are returning this medal to Washington’s successor. This time, it’s the Nobel Peace Prize medal, honoring their special contribution to our freedom.’
The encounter unfolded in the White House’s private dining room, marking the first face-to-face between Trump and Machado. Prior to the meeting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed Trump’s enthusiasm, calling it a ‘positive conversation.’ Leavitt praised Machado as a ‘courageous and powerful voice’ for Venezuelans, noting Trump’s interest in her firsthand assessment of the crisis-ridden nation.
Leavitt highlighted ongoing US engagement with Venezuela’s interim leadership, citing a $500 million energy deal and the release of five Americans among political prisoners as signs of productive cooperation. However, questions linger over whether Trump formally accepted the medal, given the Nobel Institute’s strict rules: once awarded, the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or reclaimed.
Machado’s visit comes amid mixed signals from Trump on her political prospects. Earlier this month, he deemed leading Venezuela ‘very tough’ for her due to insufficient support, while praising interim leader Delcy Rodriguez as ‘terrific.’ Emerging publicly after 11 months in hiding, Machado collected her Nobel in Norway last December, reigniting her campaign against the Maduro regime.
This exchange underscores deepening US-Venezuela ties under Trump, potentially signaling bolder American support for democratic forces. As Maduro’s grip tightens, Machado’s bold move could galvanize international backing, echoing historic alliances that shaped the Americas.
