Venezuelan opposition leader gives Trump her Nobel Peace Prize
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House.
Ms Machado said her gesture was a recognition of Mr Trump’s commitment to Venezuela’s freedom.
“I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans,” Ms Machado said after meeting Mr Trump in person for the first time, weeks after U.S. forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and charged him in a drug-trafficking case.
After her meeting at the White House, Ms Machado spoke to supporters gathered outside the gates, telling them in Spanish, “We can count on President Trump,” according to the Associated Press.
“I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” Ms Machado later told journalists, calling it “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”.
In response, Mr Trump expressed his gratitude in a social media post, saying the move was “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect”.
Despite their meeting, Mr Trump did not endorse Ms Machado, who claimed victory in Venezuela’s widely contested 2024 election, as Venezuela’s new leader.
The U.S. president has instead been dealing with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting head of state in Venezuela, who was Mr Maduro’s vice-president.
Meanwhile, the Nobel Committee had clarified that it was not transferable. “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others,” the committee said in a statement last week. “The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Before Ms Machado and Mr Trump’s White House meeting on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Centre posted on X that “a medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot”.
Since Mr Maduro was abducted on January 3, Mr Trump’s administration has moved quickly to remake Venezuela’s oil sector, which had been under U.S. sanctions.
On Wednesday, an American official said the U.S. had completed its first oil sale to Venezuela, valued at $500 million (£373 million).
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Mutfwang hails Tinubu for approving dualisation of Plateau-Taraba road
Mr Mutfwang particularly thanked Mr Yilwatda for his strategic engagement and commitment to the development of Plateau State at all times.
NationWide
Obi thanks God @65, donates ₦10 million to rural hospital in Anambra community
Mr Obi expressed gratitude to God and renewed commitment to the service of humanity.
States
Firearm, phone recovered as police nab four suspected kidnappers in Anambra
The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant.
Heading 3
Spain lift 2026 World Cup after beating Messi’s Argentina
The defeat meant that Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates failed to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles in 64 years.
States
Fire service rescues man trapped under collapsed Kano wall
The PRO said that the victim was rescued alive and conveyed to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano State.
Heading 1
Alake of Egbaland endorses PDP candidate Adebutu for 2027 Ogun governorship race
Mr Adebutu accused successive administrations of denying local governments the financial independence needed to drive development.
