Maria Corina Machado, the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, disclosed that she presented the award to Donald Trump during a meeting at the Oval Office today.
There were expectations that Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition figure, would assume interim leadership in the country following Trump’s recent actions that ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro. However, it was reported that Trump’s enthusiasm waned as Machado did not outright reject her Nobel Prize and instead offered it to him.
Since the intervention, Machado has appeared on American news channels sporadically, potentially aiming to persuade the US president to reconsider and appoint her as the interim President.
After the meeting, Machado announced that she handed her medal to Trump as a token of appreciation for his unwavering dedication to their freedom. She drew parallels to a historical event where General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal featuring George Washington’s likeness, symbolizing solidarity between the US and Venezuela in their fight against tyranny.
Trump, in a pre-meeting interview, described Machado as a pleasant individual, indicating a forthcoming discussion focused on fundamental matters. However, following the US intervention in Venezuela, Trump expressed doubts about Machado’s ability to lead, citing a lack of domestic support and respect.
Upon rumors of Machado’s plan to transfer the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Committee clarified that the award is non-transferrable and cannot be shared or revoked once announced.
Post the White House meeting, Machado interacted with supporters outside the premises before proceeding to Capitol Hill for a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators. She engaged with lawmakers individually, exchanging pleasantries and gestures of goodwill, including embracing Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Photographs were taken with the senatorial group before Machado engaged in closed-door discussions with them.