Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gifted her medal for the Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump during a private White House meeting today.
This comes after Trump has repeatedly questioned her credibility to take over her country after the U.S. ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.
BREAKING: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she presented Trump her Nobel Peace Prize to recognize his commitment to her country.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) January 15, 2026 at 2:09 PM
More from AP News:
“I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters after leaving the White House and heading to Capitol Hill. She said she’d done so “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
Even if it the gesture proves to be purely symbolic, it was extraordinary given that Trump has failed to support Machado eventually becoming Venezuela’s leader following Maduro’s capture in an audacious U.S. military raid this month.
Trump has also raised doubts about his stated commitment to backing democratic rule for that country, giving no timetable on when elections might be held — and Machado indicated he’d provided few details on that front during their meeting.
The Nobel Institute has already said publicly Machado can’t transfer the honor to Trump.
Machado: I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel peace prize pic.twitter.com/6bBckRbeS1
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 15, 2026
BAIER: I am getting word from White House officials that Machado insisted that she give the Nobel medal to the president, and he did accept it. pic.twitter.com/9nrRucpwgZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 15, 2026
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