Trump Calls Machado’s Nobel Medal Presentation a ‘Wonderful Gesture’
US President Donald Trump received the Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado during a White House meeting on Thursday, describing the act as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts advocating democracy and peaceful change in Venezuela, presented Trump with her medal. While the official prize remains hers and cannot be formally transferred, the gesture was widely seen as symbolic recognition of Trump’s support for democratic forces in Venezuela.
Trump praised Machado on his Truth Social account, calling her “a wonderful woman who has been through so much” and thanking her for presenting the medal. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
Machado told reporters that she offered the medal “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.” She did not disclose details of their closed-door discussions but was greeted by cheering supporters near the White House afterward.
The presentation comes amid ongoing debates about Venezuela’s political future and US involvement in supporting democratic leadership, with Trump emphasizing his willingness to engage with Venezuela’s interim authorities while highlighting challenges facing Machado’s party back home.
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