In what appeared to be an effort to regain Donald Trump’s goodwill, Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado said she had “presented” her gold Nobel Peace Prize medal to the US president during a private meeting at the White House on Thursday.
Machado, who received the prize last year for her campaign against Nicolás Maduro’s “repressive authoritarian regime,” told reporters the gesture was made “in recognition of his singular commitment to our freedom.” It was not immediately known whether Trump formally accepted the medal.
Trump later posted on his Truth Social account: “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. A beautiful sign of mutual respect. Thank you, María!"
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met Donald Trump on Thursday for what the White House described as “positive” talks, despite the US president having sidelined her politically and openly expressing interest in her Nobel Peace Prize, reports The Guardian.
Since removing Nicolás Maduro from power, Trump has questioned Machado’s popular support in oil-rich Venezuela and instead thrown his backing behind Maduro’s former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez.
After the meeting, Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Maduro's rule, met jubilant supporters outside the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been "looking forward" to his lunch with Machado, their first meeting since the dramatic US military operation that captured Maduro on January 3.
