U.S. President Donald Trump will retain a Nobel Peace Prize medal that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented to him during a White House meeting Thursday, according to multiple reports. The extraordinary exchange marks a highly symbolic moment—both politically and diplomatically—amid ongoing upheaval in Venezuela and broadly contested U.S. influence in the region.
In a post on his social media platform on Thursday evening, Trump wrote, “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!” reflecting his appreciation for Machado’s gift. The Nobel Peace Prize medal he received—a gold medallion that typically accompanies the award—was framed and displayed publicly by the White House later that evening.
Yet despite Trump’s acceptance of the physical medal, both the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Nobel organizers clarified that the prize itself—specifically the honor and laureate status—remains exclusively Machado’s. Nobel rules clearly state that once a Peace Prize is awarded, it cannot be transferred, shared, revoked, or reassigned, even if the medal itself changes hands.
Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership in opposition to Venezuela’s authoritarian regime, described her gesture as recognition of Trump’s role in supporting Venezuelan freedom. She told reporters after the meeting that she gave the medal to Trump “in recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”
The meeting at the White House—reported to have lasted slightly over an hour—was the first in‑person encounter between the two. Machado also traveled to Capitol Hill, where she met with bipartisan groups of U.S. senators to discuss Venezuela’s political future and democratic transition.
The gesture comes at a delicate time: Trump’s administration earlier this month orchestrated a covert operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an outcome that has dramatically reshaped political dynamics in Caracas and provoked intense debate in Washington.
Yet despite Machado’s overtures, Trump has stopped short of endorsing her as Venezuela’s next leader. In prior comments to Reuters, he noted that while Machado legitimately earned the Nobel Peace Prize, she did not currently have the domestic support needed to govern the country—echoing his administration’s “realistic assessment” of the political landscape.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed this position, saying Trump had looked forward to meeting Machado but maintained his view that she was not ready to take on a leadership role in Venezuela in the immediate future.
The Nobel Peace Prize’s governance has become a source of public confusion and political theater in recent weeks. Machado openly campaigned for Trump to receive the award before the Nobel Committee’s 2025 decision, and news outlets reported that Trump took personal disappointment in not winning the prize.
A statement from Nobel organizers reiterated that while the physical medal may be gifted, the title of Nobel laureate cannot. They emphasized that Nobel decisions are final and irreversible, a stance meant to quash speculation about prize transfers amid high‑profile political attention.
Political analysts suggest Machado’s decision to give Trump the medal was a strategic gambit—an attempt to shore up favor with the U.S. president after being sidelined in decisions about Venezuela’s post‑Maduro transition. Critics counter that the move may have backfired, highlighting divisions within the Venezuelan opposition and reinforcing Trump’s reluctance to back her leadership bid.
While Machado seeks international backing, Venezuela itself remains politically unsettled. The interim leadership under Delcy Rodríguez—Maduro’s former vice president—has pushed forward with governance and sought diplomatic engagement with the United States, including potential oil industry reforms to attract foreign investment. Rodríguez has emphasized diplomacy and outreach, though critics argue that significant democratic reforms and credible elections are still forthcoming.
Machado’s dramatic escape from Venezuela in December and her Nobel recognition elevated her global profile, but her political path remains uncertain. U.S. focus on “securing access to oil and rebuilding Venezuela’s economy,” as articulated by Trump, complicates the narrative of democratic transition versus geopolitical strategy.
As the White House confirms Trump will retain Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize medal as a symbolic token, attention now turns to how this unusual diplomatic moment will influence U.S.–Venezuela relations and the broader struggle for governance in a country long grappling with authoritarian rule and economic collapse.
