Venezuela News In a dramatic and highly symbolic meeting Thursday at the White House, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented U.S. President Donald Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal, an extraordinary political gesture intended to strengthen her standing in the ongoing fight for democratic change in Venezuela.
The meeting, billed as a key moment in USA Venezuela news, took place amid evolving U.S. policy toward Venezuela following the capture of long-time leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this month. Machado, once a leading figure in the Venezuelan news opposition and a Nobel laureate for her struggle against authoritarianism, sought to use her prized accolade to win Trump’s support for her bid to lead a post-Maduro Venezuela.
Trump graciously accepted the medal during the meeting, calling Machado a “wonderful woman” and thanking her for the gesture of “mutual respect”. He later praised the encounter on his social media platform, Truth Social.
However, the presentation carries no legal transfer of the prize itself. The Norwegian Nobel Institute quickly reiterated that while a medal can have a new physical custodian, the title and rights of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be shared or transferred under Nobel Foundation rules.
A Risky Political Gamble
Machado’s decision to offer up the medal is a bold political move to restore her influence in the US government after months of indecision about her role in determining Venezuela news future. When Maduro was ousted, Trump appointed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, as acting president.
Machado’s visit to Washington came after she made a dramatic exit from Venezuela news last year, living under threat and going briefly into hiding amid increased repression by Maduro’s government. In October 2025, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership in the fight against Maduro’s regime and for campaigning around democracy.
Despite her international recognition, the Trump administration has been cautious about fully endorsing her leadership. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a “remarkable and brave voice” for many Venezuelans but reiterated that Trump’s opinion on her ability to lead remains unchanged. He believes she lacks sufficient domestic support and respect within her own country to lead Venezuela news at this time.
Symbolism, Not Strategy
The symbolic act of handing over a Nobel medal even though the Nobel Institute clarified it cannot be officially transferred. Others warn it may backfire by associating her too closely with U.S. interests at a time when Venezuelans are deeply wary of foreign intervention.
During brief remarks after the meeting, Machado described the gesture as a tribute to the “unique commitment” the United States has shown to Venezuelan freedom, a symbol of unity between the people of Venezuela and the U.S. in the struggle against tyranny.
But the White House has given little of the sort in concrete commitments, aside from broad backing for democratic reconstruction and free elections in Venezuela. The Trump administration has reiterated economic stabilisation and cooperation with foreign partners, such as foreign investment in the country’s vital oil sector.
Bipartisan Talks and Ongoing Campaign
Machado had already met Trump before sitting down in a bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill with US senators. But lawmakers worried over the timing of legitimate democratic elections in Venezuela news and the necessity of protecting human rights and civil liberties as the transition takes place.
In response to her appearance in Washington, Maduro loyalists have criticised the symbolic transfer of the Nobel medal, framing it as evidence of external interference in Venezuela’s affairs. Meanwhile, acting President Delcy Rodríguez uses the moment to project stability and continuity as she pushes for reforms and foreign investments in the Venezuelan economy.
