María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader, has presented her Nobel Peace Prize award to United States (US) President, Donald Trump, for the “work done” by the American Leader in the South American country.
Machado presented the Nobel Prize to Trump during a meeting at the White House in Washington DC; she explained, the gesture was to recognize Trump’s commitment to the freedom of her country.
Following her meeting with the US President for the first time, Machado said: “I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans.”
The 47th US President described Machado’s award as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect”.
Machado and Trump’s meeting in the United States (US) is coming weeks after American forces captured President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, in Caracas, the country’s capital, and charged him in a drug-trafficking case.
President Trump posted on Truth Social: “It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done.
“Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!”
Trump has rejected to give his endorsement to Machado as the new leader of Venezuela, despite her movement claiming victory in 2024’s heavily contested elections.
Instead, Trump has been dealing with Delcy Rodríguez, acting head of state in Venezuela, and former Vice President of Maduro.
Machado spoke to supporters converged at the gates after she exited the White House.
According to Associated Press, Machado told the supporters in Spanish: “We can count on President Trump.”
And in English, she told journalists, “I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize”, adding, it is “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”.
The US Leader, who has not stopped to talk about his desire to be handed the Nobel Peace Prize, had made known his disapproval after the accolade was given to Machado, and she decided to accept the award in 2025.
Despite the Committee clarifying that, the award was not transferable, Machado went ahead last week and said, she would share it with Trump.
Nobel Prize said in a statement: “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
During her visit to Washington, Machado also paid a visit to Congress to meet US senators.
Machado remains a popular figure within the opposition movement of Venezuela; she was a former member of the National Assembly of the country.
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (US), receives Maria Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize award in the White House in Washington DC | Reuters/White House
