In a historic first meeting on Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump at the White House. The gesture comes just weeks after a US military operation in Caracas captured President Nicolás Maduro, who now faces drug-trafficking charges in New York.
Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in absentia while in hiding, described the gift as a recognition of Trump’s "unique commitment" to Venezuelan freedom.
"The people of Bolívar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal," Machado told journalists, drawing a parallel to the 19th-century exchange between the Marquis de Lafayette and Simón Bolívar.
Despite the high-profile meeting, political friction remains. While Trump called Machado a "wonderful woman" and a "freedom fighter," he has notably declined to endorse her as Venezuela’s new leader.
Instead, the Trump administration has been working with acting head of state Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president. White House officials have suggested that Machado lacks the necessary domestic support to lead a stable transition.
The gift has sparked debate over the protocol of the world’s most prestigious peace award. While the physical gold medal may change hands, the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a firm clarification: Non-transferable: The title of Nobel Laureate cannot be shared or transferred. Final Decision: Once awarded, the prize cannot be revoked or reassigned to another individual. Symbolism: The Nobel Peace Center noted that "a medal can change owners, but the title cannot."
Since the military raid that seized Maduro, the US has moved quickly to engage with Venezuela's oil sector. An American official confirmed the first sale of Venezuelan oil—valued at $500 million—since the operation.
Meanwhile, diplomatic ties are shifting. A Venezuelan government envoy is expected in Washington to begin reopening the embassy. Acting President Rodríguez, described by the White House as "co-operative," recently stated her willingness to engage in direct diplomacy, vowing to attend future meetings in Washington "standing tall."
