Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has given her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, claiming it symbolizes recognition of his commitment to her country's freedom.
I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans, she stated after meeting Trump for the first time, following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a drug-trafficking case.
Trump described the gesture as a wonderful act of mutual respect. However, the Nobel committee clarified that a Nobel Prize cannot be shared or transferred.
Despite having spoken highly of Machado, Trump did not endorse her as Venezuela's leader, continuing to engage with Delcy Rodríguez, the nation's acting leader. Machado emphasized her dedication to Venezuela's freedom during her visit, stating her symbolic gift was a recognition of Trump's decisive actions and commitment.
Comparing her gesture to the Marquis de Lafayette giving a medal to Simon Bolivar, she articulated the historical ties between Venezuela and the US in their shared fight against tyranny.
Beside her meeting with Trump, Machado also engaged with US senators and highlighted the urgent need for democratic elections in Venezuela, where her coalition aims to lead during the transitional period.
As geopolitical tensions rise concerning oil production in Venezuela, strides toward diplomatic engagement are critical, with both Machado's symbolic act and Trump's positioning illustrating the complex interplay of support and rivalry in regional politics.
