US President Donald Trump has publicly commended Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado following a White House meeting in which she presented him with what she described as “her Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, described Machado as “a wonderful woman who has been through so much,” adding that the act of handing him the medal was “such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
Machado confirmed on Thursday that she had “presented” her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to win the backing of the US president, who has largely sidelined her since the military operation that led to the overthrow of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s praise followed earlier remarks in which he suggested that the Nobel Peace Prize should have been awarded to him. His comments also came after he declined to support Machado in the aftermath of the January 3 US military action that resulted in Maduro’s capture.
“He deserves it, and it was a very emotional moment,” Machado later said during an interview with Fox News, reflecting on her encounter with Trump.
Despite the symbolic gesture, Trump has continued to signal support for Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, provided she aligns with Washington’s priorities, particularly concerning access to the country’s extensive oil resources.
“I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told journalists outside the US Capitol, where she met lawmakers after having lunch with Trump at the White House. The 58-year-old opposition leader described the presentation as “recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
It remains unclear whether Trump retained the medal after the private meeting. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has previously stated that its awards are non-transferable.
Trump has long argued that he deserved last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, citing what he claims were efforts to end eight global conflicts. The award, however, went to Machado, who traveled to Oslo last month to receive it after a dramatic escape from Venezuela by boat. She later dedicated the prize to Trump.
Venezuela’s opposition has consistently maintained, and submitted evidence to support claims, that Maduro manipulated the 2024 presidential election against the candidate backed by Machado’s party, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. These allegations have been endorsed by Washington.
Nevertheless, Trump has asserted that Machado lacks sufficient domestic support and has chosen instead to work with Rodriguez, a former ally of Maduro. Trump and Rodriguez held their first phone conversation on Wednesday, after which the White House said the president “likes what he’s seeing” from Venezuela’s interim leadership.
Rodriguez, however, signaled that her administration was prepared for diplomatic tension.
“We know they are very powerful. We know they are a lethal nuclear power…we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said.
Rodriguez delivered Maduro’s state of the nation address to parliament while the deposed leader remains in a New York prison, facing drug trafficking charges.
In contrast, Machado, who spent years campaigning to end Maduro’s leftist rule, was met with cheering supporters as she exited the White House. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a “remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela,” though she declined to specify a timeline when asked about prospects for future elections, saying only that Trump was “committed to hopefully seeing elections in Venezuela one day.”
Since Maduro’s arrest, Trump has stated that the United States will effectively “run” Venezuela, applying pressure through naval operations and the threat of further military action. At the same time, his administration has appeared willing to allow Rodriguez to remain in power as long as Venezuelan oil exports continue.
On Thursday, US forces seized a sixth oil tanker as part of efforts to assert control over Venezuela’s vital energy sector. Separately, a US official confirmed that the first American-brokered sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at approximately $500 million, had been completed, though the buyer was not disclosed.
In her parliamentary address, Rodriguez also announced intentions to introduce legal reforms to Venezuela’s oil industry, which currently restrict foreign participation, though she did not elaborate on the details.
Washington has welcomed the recent release of dozens of political detainees, even as hundreds remain imprisoned. Meanwhile, the effects of the rapid US-led operation that removed Maduro from power continue to ripple across the region.
In Cuba, authorities on Thursday honored 32 soldiers killed during the operation, some of whom were assigned to Maduro’s security detail. The ceremony was attended by revolutionary leader Raúl Castro.
What you should know
The meeting between Donald Trump and Maria Corina Machado highlights the complex power dynamics shaping post-Maduro Venezuela.
While Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize gesture underscores her attempt to secure stronger US backing, Washington’s continued engagement with Delcy Rodriguez reflects a pragmatic focus on oil access and regional stability.
The episode illustrates how symbolism, diplomacy, and economic interests intersect in US–Venezuela relations, raising questions about the future of democratic reforms, opposition influence, and the long-term direction of Venezuelan governance under US pressure.
