In a dramatic and highly symbolic gesture, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented U.S. President Donald Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal during a White House meeting on January 15, 2026, saying the gift recognized what she described as his exceptional commitment to freedom for the Venezuelan people.
Machado — who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her campaign for democratic rights and peaceful transition in Venezuela — handed over the medal to Trump in a framed display, telling reporters afterward that she saw the act as reflecting “a historic day for us Venezuelans.”
Trump thanked Machado in a social media post, calling the gesture “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect” and praising her personal resilience. He said it was “my great honor” to meet her and called her “a wonderful woman who has been through so much.”
However, the Nobel Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred or shared, the Norwegian Nobel Committee reiterated this month, emphasizing that while a physical medal may change hands, the title of Nobel laureate remains solely with the original recipient.
The exchange comes amid intense political upheaval in Venezuela — including the U.S.-backed capture of President Nicolás Maduro and the rise of Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president, who is currently acting head of state with Washington’s apparent support. Trump has so far declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela’s leader despite her opposition movement’s claims of victory in the disputed 2024 elections.
After leaving the White House, Machado told supporters outside that they “can count on President Trump,” reinforcing her belief that the gesture underscored U.S.–Venezuelan solidarity in the fight against tyranny.
Credit: BBC
