Friday 16 / January / 2026
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado visited the White House on Thursday for a closed-door lunch with US President Donald Trump.
Machado told reporters after the meeting she had "presented" Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom."
In brief remarks, she added the meeting had gone well and that her supporters could "count on" the US president.
A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal, Reuters news agency and CNN reported.
Trump has openly coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, and reacted to Machado's being named Nobel laureate in December 2025 with derision.
Machado had been careful in recent weeks to avoid offending Trump and even previously offered to share her peace prize with him, which the Nobel Institute said is not allowed.
Trump called Machado a "wonderful woman" after their meeting Thursday.
"It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect," Trump later wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Thank you María!"
The ouster of President Nicolas Maduro after a US raid in Caracas on January 3 had initially sparked hopes among Venezuela's embattled pro-democracy opposition, led by Machado, who had called for an "end to tyranny" in Venezuela.
However, Trump quickly sidelined Machado after the US kidnapped Maduro, saying she didn't "have the support within or the respect within the country" to be in charge.
Venezuela's opposition says Maduro stole the 2024 election from Machado's party, claims which have been supported by Washington.
On Thursday, the White House said Trump has not changed his opinion on Machado.
Venezuela's Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize in absentia
