María Corina Machado, the opposition leader of Venezuela, has presented her Nobel Peace Prize to US President, Donald Trump.
She made the presentation during their White House meeting in Washington DC on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her campaign for democracy.
But she has left the medal in the White House for President Trump, with the hope that the gesture might get the US President to support her bid to become Venezuela’s President in the post Nicolas Maduro era. Mr. Maduro was captured by the US earlier this month and is standing trial in New York.
Machado is one of two figures vying for the leadership of a post-Maduro Venezuela.
Trump has picked Maduro’s ex-Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president of Venezuela.
A photo released by the White House shows President Trump beside Machado, holding a large gold-framed plaque that appeared wall-ready, containing the medal and the dedication: “Presented as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan people in recognition of President Trump’s principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.”
President Trump himself post on Truth Social, saying
“Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
