Venezuela Leader Machado Offers Her Nobel Prize to Trump, But There’s a Catch

Washington: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday claimed that she has presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump. According to Machado, she took this step to show support for Venezuelan independence and said that she has confidence in Trump in this fight.

However, the Nobel Institute has made it clear that this award can neither be given to anyone else, nor can it be shared, nor can it be returned. Technically, this honor will still be registered in Machado's name.

What happened in the White House? Did Trump accept the medal?

Machado talked about giving the medal to reporters after meeting Trump at the White House, but it was not clear whether Trump formally accepted it or not. No official statement was immediately issued by the White House on this entire matter.

Why was this step taken now?

This symbolic offer has come at a time when Trump recently expressed his desire to work with Venezuela's acting president, Delsey Rodriguez. This indicated that the US administration is not currently considering Machado as the primary option. It is noteworthy that when Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, she had dedicated it to both the Venezuelan people and Trump.

Was Machado's trip safe?

It was not easy or safe for Machado to reach America. She left the country last year after being briefly detained in Caracas, and since then her whereabouts have been known only to a limited number of people. When she came out after meeting Trump behind closed doors, her supporters standing at the gate welcomed her warmly.

What kind of support did she get in her meeting with American lawmakers?

After the White House, Machado also reached Capitol Hill, where she talked to more than a dozen senators from the Republican and Democratic parties. There she got a relatively more positive response and support.

What does the Trump administration think about Machado?

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said Trump was eager to meet with Machado, but believed Machado currently did not have enough political support to immediately take power in Venezuela.

Does Machado want to remain in the race for power in the future?

Machado is said to have left Venezuela via a risky sea route in December. Now she is trying to gain trust between the Trump administration and people associated with the Venezuelan government. Their goal is clear – if the balance of power in Venezuela changes in the future, then their role should remain important in it.