U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted a Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a meeting at the White House, a symbolic gesture aimed at influencing U.S. policy toward Venezuela’s political future.
The meeting took place on January 15 and lasted just over an hour. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal. Later that day, Trump posted on social media, saying Machado had given him the medal in recognition of the work he believes he has done in support of peace and freedom. The White House also released a photo showing Trump holding a framed display of the medal with a message praising his leadership.
Machado described the meeting as “excellent” but did not provide details. She said the gift was meant to acknowledge what she called Trump’s commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Machado remains hers alone and cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked, even if the physical medal is given away.
The encounter comes at a complicated moment for Venezuela. Machado has been trying to gain Trump’s support as she seeks a role in shaping the country’s future after years of political crisis. Yet Trump has previously rejected the idea of installing her as Venezuela’s new leader and has emphasized that his priorities include securing U.S. access to Venezuelan oil and supporting economic recovery rather than focusing solely on democratic reforms.
After meeting Trump, Machado went on to meet with more than a dozen U.S. senators from both parties on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found stronger backing. Some lawmakers expressed concern that repression in Venezuela remains largely unchanged, despite recent developments and the release of some political prisoners.
Machado, who was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, remains a powerful symbol for many in the opposition movement. Her decision to present her Nobel medal to Trump underscores both the urgency of her campaign for international support and the high political stakes surrounding Venezuela’s uncertain path forward.
