Amidst Venezuela Crisis, Machado Meets Trump at White House, Presents Him with Her Nobel Prize

New Delhi: Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado finally met with US President Donald Trump. The meeting was closely watched following recent events in Venezuela. After the meeting, Machado made a significant claim. She said she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal during the meeting, although she did not specify whether he actually accepted it. Machado arrived at the White House on Thursday for a lunch meeting.

The meeting took place amidst intense debate over Venezuela’s political future, following the US-led operation earlier this month to arrest former President Nicolas Maduro.

After a discussion that lasted more than an hour, Machado was greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters as she left the White House. She told her supporters, “We can trust President Trump,” after which some chanted “Thank you, Trump,” before she departed for other meetings in Washington.

When asked whether Trump had accepted the medal she offered him, Machado declined to answer. This move comes after weeks of speculation and her previous public comments about giving the award to Trump.

However, the institution that awards the Nobel Peace Prize has already clarified that, according to the rules, the prize cannot be transferred or shared.

Trump Gives Machado a Gift
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was seen leaving the White House carrying a gift bag with President Donald Trump’s name on it. Machado held the bag in her hand along with her purse. The red bag bore the President’s signature. The contents of the bag are not yet clear. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a remarkable and courageous voice for many Venezuelans, but reiterated that Trump’s assessment of her leadership prospects remains unchanged. Trump has previously stated that she lacks the domestic support to lead.

Mixed US Support for Machado
Despite being a Nobel laureate and a vocal advocate for democracy, Machado has received mixed support from US officials. Trump has publicly praised Rodriguez for cooperation on oil and other issues, while some US lawmakers have expressed confidence in Machado.

Thursday’s meeting was Machado’s first public appearance in Washington in months. She had been forced to leave Venezuela due to security threats. The Maduro-aligned Supreme Court had barred Machado from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Independent observers say opposition-backed Edmundo González won decisively, although Maduro declared victory and maintained his grip on power.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who met with Machado, said she told lawmakers that the repressive system in Venezuela persists under Maduro. She described interim president Delcy Rodriguez as a “skilled leader” who is becoming increasingly powerful with the support of President Donald Trump.

Trump has previously stated that his priority is ensuring US access to Venezuelan oil and stabilizing the country’s economy. He has repeatedly praised Rodriguez, who is governing after Maduro.