US President Donald Trump has accepted the Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a meeting at the White House, a symbolic move that has drawn political attention in both Washington and Caracas.
A White House official confirmed that Trump plans to keep the medal, which Machado handed over as a gesture of appreciation for what she described as his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. Trump later acknowledged the moment on social media, calling it a meaningful act of mutual respect and thanking Machado for the presentation.
The medal itself, however, does not transfer the Nobel Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that Nobel honours cannot be shared, reassigned, or revoked, meaning the award formally remains with Machado, who received it last month.
The meeting appeared to be part of Machado’s broader effort to influence US policy toward Venezuela following the recent capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by US forces. While Trump has ruled out installing Machado as Venezuela’s leader, the opposition figure continues to push for international backing as the country’s political future remains uncertain.
Trump has long expressed interest in winning the Nobel Peace Prize and has previously linked his diplomatic efforts to the award. Asked earlier whether he wanted Machado to give him the prize, he publicly dismissed the idea, saying the honour was hers.
The White House lunch meeting, lasting just over an hour, marked the first in-person encounter between Trump and Machado. Afterward, she met with more than a dozen senators from both parties on Capitol Hill, where she has generally received warmer support.
During Machado’s visit, the White House reiterated Trump’s position that she currently lacks the political backing needed to lead Venezuela in the near term. Administration officials said the president nonetheless looked forward to meeting her and hearing her views.
Hopes for democratic change in Venezuela have grown since Maduro’s capture, though skepticism remains. Some US lawmakers said Machado warned that repression continues under interim president Delcy Rodriguez, whom Trump has praised as pragmatic and cooperative. Trump has said his priorities include securing US access to Venezuelan oil and helping stabilize the country’s economy.
Machado, who was barred from contesting Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, has maintained that the opposition won that vote despite Maduro’s claims of victory. Although the current government has announced the release of political prisoners, rights groups argue the scale of those releases has been overstated.
As Venezuela’s leadership signals openness to diplomacy and foreign investment, uncertainty continues to surround the country’s path forward, even as symbolic gestures like the Nobel medal underscore the complex political dynamics at play.
