Washington, January 16 – In a surprising gesture of solidarity, US President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House, describing the encounter as a profound honor. During their private lunch in the President’s Dining Room, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, a moment Trump celebrated on social media as a symbol of mutual respect.
Trump took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his admiration: ‘Thrilled to meet Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela. She’s an incredible woman who’s endured so much. Maria gave me her Nobel Peace Prize for my work – a beautiful sign of mutual respect.’ This marked the first face-to-face between the two leaders, highlighting growing US support for Venezuela’s democratic struggle.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Machado framed the exchange as deeply symbolic. She drew parallels to history, recalling how French General Marquis de Lafayette gifted a medal featuring George Washington to Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolivar over 200 years ago. ‘Today, Bolivar’s people are returning a medal to Washington’s successor – the Nobel Peace Prize medal, recognizing his unique commitment to our freedom,’ she said.
The meeting extended beyond the White House. Machado proceeded to Capitol Hill for a bipartisan session hosted by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Durbin praised her as ‘an extraordinary figure fully deserving of the Nobel for risking her life to bring change to Venezuela’s government and people.’
Shaheen cautioned that ousting dictator Nicolas Maduro is just the beginning. ‘Removing a tyrant doesn’t automatically restore democracy. America must ensure Venezuela doesn’t slide from one dictatorship to another,’ she warned. Senators from both parties lauded Machado’s courage, though some critiqued the Trump administration’s post-Maduro strategy.
Machado’s US visit follows her recent audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where she pleaded for the release of political prisoners. She had remained in hiding for 11 months before emerging publicly in December to accept her Nobel in Norway, underscoring her pivotal role in Venezuela’s fight for liberty.