Venezuela’s Main Opposition Leader Has Given Her Nobel Peace Prize To Trump For “Freeing” Venezuela
Trump thanked Machado in a post on Truth Social, saying it was a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect”.
Venezuela’s main opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has gifted her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump for his efforts of “freeing” Venezuela.
Machado is a vocal critic of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by the US in an unprecedented military operation on Jan. 3.
Maduro who has been accused of turning Venezuela into a dictatorship and causing a severe economic crisis, affecting millions.
Machado, who ran as vice-president during Venezuela's 2024 elections and went into hiding shortly after, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
On Thursday, Jan. 15, Machado met with Trump at the White House and presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to him on a gold frame plaque.
"Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela,” the plaque read.
Machado said the US had done a similar gesture to its founding father, Simón Bolívar, nearly 200 years ago.
“The people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington, a medal, in this case a medal of a Nobel Peace Prize, and a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom,” Machado said after the meeting.
Trump thanked Machado in a post on Truth Social, saying it was a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect”.
Trump had been vying for the Nobel Peace Prize at the same time, but ultimately did not get it.
He was later caught complaining to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about being snubbed of the prestigious prize, according to Huffpost.
Following the US’ capture of Maduro, which essentially left a power vacuum in Venezuela, reports indicated Trump had been hesitant about endorsing Machado as the next leader because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Washington Post.
The Nobel Peace Prize Committee has said the award “can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others”, adding “once the announcement has been made, the decision stands for all time.”
Sofia Hou
Kassy Cho
Cherry Mohamed
