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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during a White House meeting on Thursday, citing his commitment to her country’s liberation. During their first face-to-face encounter since U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Machado hailed the occasion as a "historic day." While Trump celebrated the act on social media as a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect," the Nobel committee issued a statement clarifying that the prize is legally non-transferable.
The US president has declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela's new leader, despite her movement claiming victory in 2024's widely contested elections. Trump has instead been dealing with the acting head of state in Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president. But he said meeting Machado was a "great honor", calling her a "wonderful woman who has been through so much".
After leaving the White House, Machado spoke to supporters gathered at the gates outside, telling them in Spanish, according to the Associated Press: "We can count on President Trump."
"I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado later told journalists in English, calling it "a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom".
Trump, who often speaks about his desire to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, had expressed displeasure when it was given to Machado and she decided to accept the honour last year.
Machado said last week that she would share it with Trump, but the committee later clarified that it was not transferable.
"Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others," it said in a statement last week. "The decision is final and stands for all time."
Before the White House meeting on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Center posted on X that "a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot".
Trump has previously described Machado as a "freedom fighter", but rejected the notion of appointing her to lead Venezuela after Maduro's removal, arguing that she lacks sufficient domestic support.
