Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump on Thursday during a White House meeting, saying it was a recognition of the US president's commitment to her country's freedom. "I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans," she said after meeting Trump in person for the first time, weeks after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and charged him in a drug-trafficking case. Trump expressed his gratitude in a social media post, saying the move was "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect". In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: "Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!" Machado, who described the meeting as "excellent," said the gift was in recognition of what she called his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. The White House later posted a photo of Trump and Machado with the president holding up a large, gold-colored frame displaying the medal. However, the US president has declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela's new leader, despite her movement claiming victory in 2024's widely contested elections. Trump has instead been dealing with the acting head of state in Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president. But he said meeting Machado was a "great honor", calling her a "wonderful woman who has been through so much". After leaving the White House, Machado spoke to supporters gathered at the gates outside, telling them in Spanish, according to the Associated Press: "We can count on President Trump." "I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado later told journalists in English. Trump, who often speaks about his desire to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, had expressed displeasure when it was given to Machado and she decided to accept the honour last year. Machado said last week that she would share it with Trump, but the Nobel Committee later clarified that it was not transferable. "Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others," the committee said in a statement last week. "The decision is final and stands for all time." Before the White House meeting on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Center posted on X that "a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot". In her remarks, Machado described how the Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in America's Revolutionary War, gave a medal bearing the likeness of George Washington to Simon Bolivar, one of the founding fathers of modern Venezuela. The gift was "a sign of the brotherhood" between her country and the US "in their fight for freedom against tyranny," Machado said. "And 200 years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal — in this case a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize — as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom," she said. Machado also visited Congress to meet US senators during her visit to Washington, where her remarks to reporters were drowned out by supporters chanting "María, presidente" and waving Venezuelan flags. Machado had been expected to use her time with Trump to try to persuade him that backing Rodríguez's interim government was a mistake, and that her opposition coalition should be in charge of this transition. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters as the meeting was underway on Thursday that Machado is "a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela" and that Trump "was looking forward to this meeting and expecting a frank and positive discussion" about the current realities of life in Venezuela. A Venezuelan government envoy is expected to travel to Washington on Thursday to meet US officials and take initial steps toward reopening the country's embassy, the New York Times reported. The emissary is reported to be a close ally and friend of Rodríguez, who has been described as "extremely co-operative" by the White House. Rodríguez delivered the annual Message to the Nation speech in Caracas on Thursday, in which she said she was willing to attend meetings in Washington as well. "If I ever have to go to Washington as acting president, I will do so standing tall, walking, and not crawling," she said, calling on the country to "not be afraid of diplomacy" with the US. — Agencies
