Trump accepts Nobel Peace medal from Venezuelan opposition leader

Washington: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a White House lunch meeting as she tries to gain some influence over how he shapes the South American country’s political future.

In a social media post, 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!”

A White House official confirmed that Trump intended to keep the medal, and the White House later posted a photograph of Trump accepting it from Machado.

Machado, who described the meeting on Thursday (Friday AEDT) as “excellent”, said the gift was in recognition of what she called his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.

Machado’s attempt to sway Trump came after he dismissed the idea of installing her as Venezuela’s leader to replace the deposed Nicolás Maduro.

Trump openly campaigned for the prize before Machado was awarded it last month and complained bitterly when he was snubbed.

Last week, Trump said he would accept the prize if Machado offered it to him when they met.

Though Machado gave Trump the gold medal that honourees receive with the prize, the honour remains hers; the Norwegian Nobel Institute said the prize cannot be transferred, shared or revoked.

Asked this week if he wanted Machado to give him the prize, Trump told Reuters: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The meeting, which appeared to last slightly over an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person. Machado then met more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies.

While the visit was ongoing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to meeting Machado, but that he stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term.

Machado, who fled Venezuela in a daring seaborne escape in December, is competing for Trump’s ear with members of Venezuela’s government and seeking to ensure she has a future role in governing the nation.

After the US captured Venezuela’s long-time leader, Maduro, in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, various opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America have expressed hope that Venezuela will begin the process of democratisation.

Democratic senator Chris Murphy, who met Machado, said she had told senators that repression in Venezuela was no different now than under Maduro. Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez was a “smooth operator” who was growing more entrenched by the day thanks to Trump’s support, he said.

“I hope elections happen, but I’m sceptical,” Murphy, of Connecticut, said.

Trump has said he is focused on securing US access to Venezuela’s oil and economically rebuilding the country. He has on several occasions praised Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s second-in-command and who became Venezuela’s leader upon his capture. In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Trump said, “She’s been very good to deal with.”

Machado was banned from running in the 2024 presidential election by a top court stacked with Maduro allies. Outside observers widely believe Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition figure backed by Machado, won by a substantial margin, but Maduro claimed victory and retained power.

While the current government has freed dozens of political prisoners in recent days, outside groups and advocates have said the scale of the releases has been exaggerated by Caracas.

In an annual address to lawmakers, Rodriguez called for diplomacy with the US and said should she need to travel to Washington, she would do so “walking on her feet, not dragged there”.

She also said she would propose reforms to her country’s oil industry aimed at increasing access for foreign investors.

Reuters

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