Trump Praises Gesture as Machado Presents Nobel Peace Prize Medal

Former United States President Donald Trump has praised what he described as a gesture of respect after Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel medal to him during a meeting at the White House.

Machado said on Thursday that she presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in an effort to win his support, after the US leader had sidelined her following the January 3 American military operation that led to the overthrow and arrest of Venezuela’s long-time leader, Nicolas Maduro.

Trump described the move as a meaningful act of mutual respect, coming after he had previously expressed frustration that the Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded to him despite his claims of stopping several global conflicts.

Machado later told US media that the moment was emotional and said the presentation of the medal was in recognition of Trump’s commitment to Venezuela’s freedom. She also reiterated the gesture while speaking to reporters outside the US Capitol, where she met with lawmakers after a luncheon with Trump at the White House.

It remains unclear whether Trump retained possession of the medal after the closed-door meeting, as the Norwegian Nobel Committee maintains that Nobel prizes are not transferable.

Despite the gesture, Trump has continued to back Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, a former ally of Maduro, provided her administration aligns with Washington’s interests, particularly regarding access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Machado, 58, received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last month after fleeing Venezuela by boat. She had dedicated the award to Trump during the ceremony. Her political movement has consistently argued that Maduro rigged the 2024 presidential election, claims that have been supported by the United States.

However, Trump has publicly stated that Machado lacks sufficient domestic support within Venezuela and has opted to maintain relations with Rodriguez’s interim government. Trump and Rodriguez held their first phone conversation on Wednesday, after which the White House said the former US president was satisfied with developments under Venezuela’s new leadership.

Rodriguez, while delivering Maduro’s state-of-the-nation address to parliament, said her government was not afraid of a diplomatic confrontation with Washington and would engage through political dialogue if necessary. Maduro is currently being held in a New York jail on drug trafficking charges.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a brave voice for many Venezuelans but stopped short of providing a timeline for possible elections in the country, despite Trump’s stated commitment to seeing democratic polls held in the future.

Since Maduro’s removal, the United States has increased pressure on Venezuela, including naval enforcement actions and control of oil shipments. On Thursday, US forces seized a sixth oil tanker as part of efforts to regulate the country’s oil sector. A US-brokered oil sale worth about 500 million dollars has also been concluded, according to US officials.

Rodriguez announced plans for reforms to Venezuela’s oil laws, which currently restrict foreign participation, though no specific details were provided. The US government has also welcomed the recent release of dozens of political prisoners, even as hundreds remain in detention.

Meanwhile, the fallout from the US operation continues across the region. In Cuba, a ceremony was held to honour 32 soldiers killed during the raid, some of whom had been assigned to protect Maduro.

Machado, who has long campaigned against Maduro’s rule, was greeted by cheering supporters as she left the White House, underscoring her continued popularity among sections of the Venezuelan public despite ongoing political uncertainty.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale