Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters she presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump in a closed-door meeting at the White House on Thursday, but did not say whether Trump would accept it.
“I think this is a historic day for us Venezuelans,” she said after meeting President Trump in person for the first time.
Weeks after U.S. troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Trump refused to endorse Machado, who claimed victory in the 2024 election, as the new leader.
Instead, he is dealing with acting head of state Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president.
According to the Associated Press, after leaving the White House, Machado told supporters gathered outside the door in Spanish, “We can trust President Trump.”
“I have awarded the President of the United States the Nobel Peace Prize medal in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to our freedom,” Machado later told reporters in English.
It is unclear whether Trump accepted the award. President Trump, who often mentions his wish to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, expressed dissatisfaction when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado last year and decided that Machado should receive the award.
Machado said last week that he would share it with President Trump, but the Nobel committee later said it was non-transferable.
In her remarks, Machado described the story of a general in the American War of Independence who presented a medal to Simon Bolivar, one of the founding fathers of modern-day Venezuela.
“This medal was awarded as a sign of brotherhood between the United States, its people, and the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom against tyranny,” Machado said.
“And over the course of 200 years of history, the Bolivarian people have been giving Washington’s successor a medal – in this case the Nobel Peace Prize Medal – in recognition of his unique commitment to our freedom.”
Machado also visited the Capitol to meet U.S. senators during her visit to Washington, where her remarks to reporters were drowned out by supporters chanting “President Maria” and waving Venezuelan flags.
Machado was expected to spend time with Trump to try to convince him that supporting Rodriguez’s interim government was a mistake and that her opposition coalition should be in charge of the transition.
White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt told reporters during Thursday’s meeting that Machado was “an incredible and courageous voice for many Venezuelans.”
“The president looks forward to this meeting and looks forward to a candid and positive discussion,” Leavitt said. “He wants to hear directly from Mr. Machado about the reality on the ground in Venezuela and what is happening in the country.”
Trump has previously described her as a “freedom fighter” but has rejected the notion of appointing her to lead Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster, arguing she lacks sufficient domestic support.
Since Maduro’s arrest on January 3, the Trump administration has moved quickly to reorganize Venezuela’s oil sector, which was under U.S. sanctions. A US official said on Wednesday that the United States had completed its first sale of $500 million (£373 million) worth of Venezuelan oil.
A Venezuelan government envoy is also scheduled to travel to Washington on Thursday to meet U.S. officials and take the first steps toward reopening the Venezuelan embassy, the New York Times reported.
The envoy is said to be a close ally and friend of Rodriguez, whom the White House described as “very cooperative.”
Delivering his annual Message to the Nation speech in Caracas on Thursday, Rodriguez said he intends to attend meetings in Washington as well.
She urged people not to be afraid of diplomacy with the United States, saying, “If I have to go to Washington as acting president, I will do so without crawling or walking.”
Trump and Rodriguez also spoke by phone Wednesday, and Trump later described his opponent on social media as a “great guy.” Rodriguez, meanwhile, described the call as “productive and respectful” and said it was characterized by “mutual respect.”
