Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday accepted a Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a meeting at the White House, a symbolic gesture aimed at influencing Washington’s role in shaping Venezuela’s political future.
A White House official confirmed that President Trump intends to keep the medal, which was presented during a lunch meeting in the Oval Office on January 15.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!”
Maria Corina Machado, who described the meeting as “excellent,” said the medal was given in recognition of Trump’s commitment to what she termed the freedom of the Venezuelan people, though she did not provide further details about the discussions.
The Trump Nobel medal Venezuela development comes amid Washington’s growing involvement in Caracas following the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro earlier this month. Trump has publicly praised Venezuela’s interim leadership and has made securing access to Venezuelan oil a key priority of his administration.
Machado’s move followed Trump’s earlier dismissal of the idea of installing her as Venezuela’s leader, with the president saying she currently lacks sufficient political backing to govern the country in the short term. Despite this, Machado is seeking a role in Venezuela’s future political setup.
Although Trump accepted the gold medal traditionally awarded to Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the honour itself remains with Machado. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred, shared or revoked.
Trump, who has long expressed interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, previously denied requesting the award from Machado, telling Reuters earlier this week: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The meeting, which lasted slightly over an hour, marked the first in-person encounter between Trump and Machado. Following the White House visit, Machado met with more than a dozen US senators from both Republican and Democratic parties on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found stronger political support.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to meeting Machado but reiterated his “realistic” assessment regarding Venezuela’s political realities.
Machado, who fled Venezuela in a dramatic seaborne escape in December, continues to lobby US officials and lawmakers as Venezuela enters a new phase following the removal of Maduro, with opposition figures and members of the diaspora hopeful that the country will now move toward democratic reform.
