Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump at the White House. Machado stated the medal was a recognition of Trump's "unique commitment with our freedom" and his support for the recent US military operation that deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This action follows Machado's dedication of the award to Trump for his "decisive support" of the Venezuelan cause, although it remains unclear if Trump formally accepted the medal.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute had previously clarified that Nobel Prizes cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred, stating the decision is final. Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign against the Maduro regime, an award Trump had openly sought and for which he has received nominations in subsequent years. The gesture is seen by analysts as an attempt to influence President Trump, who had reportedly shown a preference for an interim leader over Machado. The context for this event includes the US military's capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3, following a raid in Caracas, resulting in their indictment on federal charges in New York.
