Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado reportedly presented President Donald Trump with a medal representing her Nobel Peace Prize during a private White House meeting on Thursday. It remains unclear if the President accepted the gesture.
“I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans,” Machado stated after the meeting, marking her first in-person encounter with Mr. Trump.
Despite U.S. forces having apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas weeks prior, Mr. Trump has yet to formally endorse Ms. Machado, whose movement claimed victory in the widely disputed 2024 elections, as the nation’s new leader.
Instead, the U.S. is engaging with the acting head of state, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president.
Following her departure from the White House, Ms. Machado addressed supporters gathered outside, expressing in Spanish, according to the Associated Press, “We can count on President Trump.”
Speaking to journalists in English, Ms. Machado later affirmed, “I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” describing it as “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”.
The acceptance of the award by Mr. Trump is unconfirmed. Mr. Trump, who has frequently expressed his aspiration to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, reportedly voiced discontent when it was awarded to Ms. Machado, and after her decision to accept the honour last year.
The BBC has contacted the White House for official comment.
Ms. Machado had indicated the previous week that she intended to share the award with Mr. Trump, a notion subsequently clarified as impermissible by the Nobel Committee.
“Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others,” the committee stated last week. “The decision is final and stands for all time.”
When approached for a response to Ms. Machado’s actions, the committee referred the BBC to their preceding statement.
Prior to Thursday’s White House meeting, the Nobel Peace Center posted on X that “a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot”.
Ms. Machado likened her gesture to the Marquis de Lafayette’s presentation of a medal bearing George Washington’s image to Simon Bolivar, a key figure in Venezuelan independence.
This historical gift, according to Ms. Machado, symbolized the “brotherhood” between the U.S. and Venezuela “in their fight for freedom against tyranny.”
She added, “And 200 years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal – in this case a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize – as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
During her visit to Washington, Ms. Machado also engaged with U.S. senators on Capitol Hill, where her remarks to reporters were accompanied by supporters chanting “María, presidente” and waving Venezuelan flags.
It was anticipated that Ms. Machado would use her meeting with Mr. Trump to advocate against supporting Ms. Rodríguez’s interim government, arguing that her opposition coalition should oversee the transition.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that Ms. Machado is “a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela” and that Mr. Trump “was looking forward to this meeting and expecting a frank and positive discussion” regarding the situation in Venezuela.
Mr. Trump has previously described Ms. Machado as a “freedom fighter” but has resisted appointing her as Venezuela’s leader following Mr. Maduro’s removal, citing concerns about her level of domestic support.
Since Mr. Maduro’s apprehension on January 3, the Trump administration has acted swiftly to restructure Venezuela’s oil sector, which was previously subject to U.S. sanctions. On Wednesday, a U.S. official reported the completion of the first sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500m (£373m).
Furthermore, a Venezuelan government envoy is expected in Washington to meet with U.S. officials and commence efforts to reopen the country’s embassy, according to the New York Times.
The envoy is reportedly a close associate of Ms. Rodríguez, who has been characterized by the White House as “extremely co-operative.”
Ms. Rodríguez delivered her annual Message to the Nation address in Caracas on Thursday, expressing her willingness to attend meetings in Washington.
“If I ever have to go to Washington as acting president, I will do so standing tall, walking, and not crawling,” she stated, urging the country to “not be afraid of diplomacy” with the U.S.
Mr. Trump and Ms. Rodríguez also spoke by phone on Wednesday, with Mr. Trump later describing his counterpart on social media as “a terrific person.” Ms. Rodríguez characterized the call as “productive and courteous” and highlighted the “mutual respect” demonstrated.
BBC correspondent Will Grant reports from Havana, Cuba, where the public has gathered to pay their respects.
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