Venezuela opposition leader Machado hands Nobel Peace Prize Medal to Trump at White House meeting

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a closed-door lunch at the White House on Thursday night, January 15.

Machado described the meeting as historic, marking the first time she and Trump had met in person. Speaking to reporters afterward, she said the gesture was symbolic and meant to recognise what she described as Trump’s role in supporting Venezuela’s struggle for democracy.

Trump later confirmed the meeting in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “great honor” to meet Machado and praising her as a “wonderful woman who has been through so much.” He also acknowledged receiving the Nobel Peace Prize medal from her, describing it as “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

Machado did not clarify whether Trump formally accepted the award, which she won in 2025 for her efforts to promote democratic change in Venezuela. The Nobel Committee has previously stated that the prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred, stressing that the award decision is final and permanent.

The meeting comes less than two weeks after U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas and transferred them to the United States to face trial. Following their removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president. Trump has since indicated that he is engaging with Rodríguez’s interim government rather than Machado.

Ahead of the White House meeting, Machado had openly praised Trump and previously signaled her intention to symbolically share her Nobel recognition with him, a move widely seen as an effort to strengthen ties with the U.S. administration.

Machado’s Nobel win reportedly reignited Trump’s long-standing interest in the prize. The U.S. president has repeatedly expressed a desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, often citing his role in resolving or de-escalating international conflicts.

Despite her strong support for Trump, he has previously questioned Machado’s political strength within Venezuela, suggesting she may lack sufficient backing to win a future presidential election should one be held.