Venezuelan opposition leader Machado told the media that in a private meeting at the White House on the 15th, she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Trump, but did not specify whether Trump accepted it.
This was Machado’s first face-to-face meeting with Trump. After the meeting she said: “I believe today is a historic day for us Venezuelans.”
In the weeks following the U.S. military’s arrest of Maduro in Caracas, Trump did not express support for Machado as Venezuela’s new leader. Machado’s camp claims victory in the highly contested 2024 election.
Trump has chosen to deal with Venezuela’s interim president Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro’s rule.
After leaving the White House, Machado addressed her supporters gathered at the gate. She described the atmosphere of the meeting as “very good” and said that she had presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump, but it is still unclear whether the U.S. president accepted the gift. Trump has long craved this honor.
When the prize was awarded to Machado and she decided last year to accept the honor, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction.
Last week, Machado stated that she would share the honor with Trump, but the Nobel Committee subsequently clarified that the award is non-transferable.