Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump during a private meeting at the White House on Thursday. The gesture was intended as a symbolic recognition of what Machado described as Trump’s support for Venezuelan freedom and democratic transition.
Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her long-standing work promoting democratic rights in Venezuela and advocating for a peaceful transition from authoritarian rule. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked even if the physical medal changes hands.
Following the presentation, a White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal. In a social media post, Trump thanked Machado and called the gesture a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect,” expressing gratitude for her acknowledgement of his role.
President Trump with Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by Maria Corina Machado. pic.twitter.com/D963SRu2Za
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) January 16, 2026Machado described the meeting as positive and reaffirmed her admiration for Trump’s commitment to Venezuelan freedom. The exchange comes amid broader political developments in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Machado’s gesture underscores her efforts to influence how the United States shapes Venezuela’s political future, even as the Nobel Institute reaffirmed that the formal title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate remains hers alone.
Trump Says Nobel Winner Machado ‘Presented’ Her Peace Prize To Himhttps://t.co/4xlWjlNMRU pic.twitter.com/KxR1uM9O6t
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 16, 2026Despite the symbolic nature of the presentation, the broader impact on Venezuelan politics and U.S. policy remains uncertain. The United States continues to navigate complex relations with Venezuela’s interim leadership and the opposition movement.
