Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Presents Nobel Peace Prize Medal to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which she won last year. The gesture, Machado explained, was meant to recognize Trump’s “unique commitment to Venezuela’s freedom.”

Meeting Amid High Tensions in Venezuela
The White House meeting focused on the future of Venezuela. Machado’s visit comes shortly after U.S. forces carried out military action earlier this month that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking after the meeting, Machado said, “I presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal to the President of the United States as a symbol of recognition for his exceptional commitment to our country’s freedom.”

A Historical Anecdote: From Bolívar to Washington
Machado drew a historical parallel with Latin American revolutionary Simon Bolívar. She recounted that two years ago, General Marquis de Lafayette awarded Bolívar a medal featuring George Washington’s face, which Bolívar kept for life. Machado said, “Now, history comes full circle. Bolívar’s successors are returning a medal to Washington’s heir—this time, the Nobel Peace Prize medal—to honor a unique commitment to Venezuela’s freedom.”

Bolívar is highly revered across Latin America for his role in securing independence for several nations. Venezuela’s official name, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, honors him, as does the country of Bolivia.

Trump and the Nobel Prize
Donald Trump has long publicly expressed his desire to receive a Nobel Prize, often criticizing the Norwegian Nobel Committee for not awarding him the honor. Despite his outspoken comments, last year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado, who dedicated her medal to Trump.

Nobel Prize Rules on Transfers
The Nobel Peace Center clarified that while the medal itself can be given to someone else or even sold, the Nobel Peace Prize title cannot be transferred. According to a post by the center, “Once the Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred. The decision is final and permanently valid. The medal may change ownership, but the laureate title remains with the original recipient.”