On Thursday, January 15th, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated that during her meeting with US President Trump at the White House, she presented him with her own Nobel Peace Prize medal.
After the meeting, Maria Corina Machado told reporters that the meeting went smoothly and in a friendly manner, according to a report by CNBC, the National Broadcasting Company’s business channel.
She also confirmed that she had handed over the Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump as a recognition of his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. However, she did not disclose whether the president accepted the award.
The lunch meeting lasted just over an hour, marking their first face-to-face conversation. Following the meeting, Machado met with more than a dozen Republican and Democratic senators at Capitol Hill.
Previously, when asked by reporters if he would like Machado to give him the Nobel Prize, President Trump responded by saying, “No, I never said that. She received the Nobel Peace Prize.”
When further asked how he would respond if Machado indeed presented the award to him, he replied, “I don’t know, I shouldn’t speculate.”
The Nobel Institute in Norway recently stated that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked. Even if Trump accepts, the honor remains with Machado.
During Machado’s visit to Washington, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump looked forward to the meeting, aiming to discuss the situation in Venezuela and current events with Machado. She is recognized by many Venezuelans as a distinguished and courageous representative.
However, Leavitt emphasized that the president stands by his “realistic” assessment, suggesting that Machado currently lacks the necessary support to lead the country in the near term.
Faced with repression from Maduro’s regime, Machado fled Venezuela by sea in December. Currently, she is vying with members of the Venezuelan government to gain attention from Trump and secure an important role in future governance.
After the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a raid, various Venezuelan opposition figures, Venezuelan expatriates, as well as political figures from the US and Latin America, have expressed hope for the start of Venezuela’s democratization process.