Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has presented her Nobel Peace Prize 2025 medal to US President Donald Trump during a private meeting at the White House, in a symbolic gesture aimed at acknowledging Washington’s role in the dramatic political upheaval in Venezuela.
Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her campaign against what the award committee described as President Nicolás Maduro’s “brutal and authoritarian rule”, told reporters that she offered the medal to Trump “in recognition of his unique commitment to our freedom”.
Trump has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize and actively campaigned for the honour, securing nominations from several countries, including Israel and Pakistan, but the Nobel Committee ultimately decided otherwise.
Hours later, Trump confirmed the exchange on his Truth Social platform, stating that Machado had “presented me with her Nobel peace prize for the work I have done”. The White House later released a photograph showing the medal displayed in a large framed case, accompanied by an inscription thanking Trump for his “principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela”.
However, the Nobel Committee swiftly clarified that while a medal may change hands, the Nobel Peace Prize title itself is neither transferable nor shareable. The clarification followed Machado’s earlier comments suggesting she wished to “share” the award with Trump.
The gesture comes at a politically sensitive moment. Despite widespread belief among opposition supporters that Machado’s movement had prevailed in Venezuela’s 2024 election, she was sidelined after US special forces detained Maduro earlier this month. Instead of recognising Machado as Venezuela’s new leader, the Trump administration backed Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as acting president.
Political analysts view Machado’s decision to hand over her medal as an attempt to regain US backing and revive opposition hopes of assuming power, particularly as Maduro remains in custody in New York.
Machado likened her gesture to a historical act of solidarity, recalling how the Marquis de Lafayette once sent a gold medal bearing George Washington’s image to South American independence leader Simón Bolívar. She described it as a symbol of shared struggle against tyranny between the US and Venezuela.
The White House defended Trump’s decision not to endorse Machado, citing concerns about stability and security. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president’s assessment was based on advice from his national security team and reflected “realities on the ground”.
While Trump has expressed hope that Venezuela could hold elections “one day”, he has cautioned that conditions are not yet suitable.
Meanwhile, Rodríguez has signalled a willingness to reopen diplomatic channels with Washington, even as she criticised the US intervention as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Despite the tensions, she said Venezuela remained open to dialogue with all global powers, including the United States.
The episode underscores the complex and rapidly evolving political landscape in Venezuela, as competing visions for the country’s future continue to collide on the international stage.
