Venezuelan Opposition Leader Presents Nobel Peace Prize Medal to President Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. This gesture was intended to acknowledge Trump's support for Venezuelan democracy.

Following the meeting, a White House official confirmed that President Trump accepted the medal.

Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025 for her efforts in promoting democratic rights in Venezuela, had previously expressed her desire to share the honor with President Trump. However, the Norwegian Nobel Institute clarified that the prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred.

During the meeting, Machado reflected on the historical ties between the United States and Venezuela, recalling that 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simón Bolívar a medal with George Washington’s image as a symbol of brotherhood between the two nations. She likened her presentation of the Nobel medal to President Trump to this historical gesture.

President Trump expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect."

The meeting underscores the ongoing diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuelan opposition leaders amid efforts to transition Venezuela towards democracy.