Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado surprised many observers Thursday when she handed President Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal during a private meeting at the White House – a gesture both sides described as symbolic and deeply personal. White House officials confirmed the medal was the original one issued to her, not a reproduction.
Speaking later with reporters on Capitol Hill, Machado framed the presentation as an expression of appreciation for what she characterized as Trump’s role in ending the rule of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. “This was a sign of gratitude for historic actions toward restoring democracy,” she said.
President Trump publicly acknowledged the encounter on his Truth Social account, calling Machado “a courageous leader” and describing the gift as a “remarkable sign of respect.” Trump said Machado told him the Venezuelan people wished to share the honor with him “for the work I have done.”
Machado also invoked a historical example, citing the moment two centuries ago when General Marquis de Lafayette gifted Simón Bolívar a medal depicting George Washington – a gesture Bolívar kept as a lasting symbol of solidarity between the United States and the people of Venezuela. In her retelling, Thursday’s medal exchange represented a modern continuation of that relationship.
The idea of sharing the medal had been mentioned earlier in the month during Machado’s interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, where she called Trump’s actions “a turning point” for Venezuela. She reiterated at the time that the award “belongs to the Venezuelan people.”
The unusual nature of the gift prompted a response from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which issued a clarification noting that Nobel awards cannot be reassigned, revoked, or shared after the fact. The committee emphasized that while a medal is a physical object capable of changing hands, the laureate title remains solely with Machado.
President Trump has long expressed frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize himself, frequently arguing that his administration helped de-escalate multiple international disputes. Critics and analysts have countered that while negotiations and ceasefires occurred, many of the cited conflicts did not constitute formal wars and remain unsettled.
Despite the ceremony-like presentation at the White House, Trump has not formally backed Machado as Venezuela’s future leader. The administration has instead worked with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, a former Maduro ally, whom Trump described as “very strong” and “serious about moving forward.”
Meanwhile, U.S. military and economic pressure on Venezuelan energy holdings has continued. Defense officials confirmed the detention of another Venezuelan tanker in the Caribbean this week, bringing the total to at least six since early January. The administration has already auctioned a portion of seized oil, generating roughly $500 million in revenue, with Treasury officials indicating funds may soon be redirected toward Venezuela’s reconstruction.
Machado, who earned the Nobel for helping unify Venezuela’s fractured opposition, maintains that the 2024 electoral results gave her coalition a legitimate mandate to govern. She insists the opposition “stands ready to serve” once power transitions are formalized.
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