What Happened When Trump Met Venezuelan Leader María Corina Machado?

Historic Meeting at the White House

In a significant event, US President Donald Trump expressed that meeting Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado was a 'great honor'. During their private discussions at the White House, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump shared his sentiments on social media, stating, 'It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much.'

He noted that Machado's gesture of giving him the Nobel Peace Prize was a sign of mutual respect, saying, 'Thank you María!' This meeting, which took place over lunch in the White House’s Private Dining Room, was their first face-to-face interaction.

Machado later informed the press that she had given Trump the Nobel Peace Prize medal, emphasizing its symbolic importance in the context of shared democratic values between Venezuela and the United States.

She recounted a historical anecdote, mentioning that 200 years ago, French General Marquis de Lafayette had gifted Venezuelan independence leader Simon Bolívar a medal featuring George Washington's likeness, which Bolívar cherished throughout his life.

Machado remarked, 'Two hundred years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal, in this case, the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize as a recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom.'

The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked once awarded.

Following her meeting with Trump, Machado proceeded to Capitol Hill for a bipartisan discussion with US senators, facilitated by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen.

Durbin praised Machado as an extraordinary individual deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize for her bravery in advocating for change in Venezuela. Shaheen cautioned that 'removing a dictator is not the same as restoring democracy,' stressing the need for the US to ensure Venezuela does not merely shift from one authoritarian regime to another.

Both Republican and Democratic senators commended Machado's courage and leadership, while some voiced concerns regarding the Trump administration's strategy towards Venezuela after the ousting of Nicolas Maduro.

Machado's visit to the US followed a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where she sought assistance for the release of political prisoners. She made her public return in December after spending 11 months in hiding to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.