Venezuelan opposition chief María Corina Machado mentioned she introduced her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 15, 2026), “as a recognition for his distinctive dedication with our freedom.” Machado detailed having given her prize to Trump in feedback to a gaggle of reporters after the assembly, however didn’t present additional particulars. The White Home didn’t instantly say if Trump accepted the medal.
That adopted her having met with Trump to debate her nation’s future, regardless that he has dismissed her credibility to take over after an audacious U.S. navy raid that captured then-President Nicolás Maduro.
Visiting Mr. Trump introduced one thing of a bodily threat for Ms. Machado, whose whereabouts have been largely unknown since she left her nation final 12 months after being briefly detained in Caracas. Nonetheless, after a closed-door dialogue with Mr. Trump, she greeted dozens of cheering supporters ready for her close to the gates — stopping to hug many.
“We are able to depend on President Trump,” she advised them, prompting some to briefly chant “Thanks, Trump,” however she did not elaborate.
The jubilant scene stood in distinction to Mr. Trump having repeatedly raised doubts about Ms. Machado and his acknowledged dedication to backing democratic rule in Venezuela. He has signalled his willingness to work with performing President Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro’s Quantity 2.
Together with others within the deposed chief’s inside circle, Ms. Rodríguez stays answerable for day-to-day authorities operations and was delivering her first state of the union speech throughout Machado’s Washington journey.
In endorsing Ms. Rodríguez to date, Mr. Trump sidelined Ms. Machado, who has lengthy been a face of resistance in Venezuela. That is regardless of Ms. Machado in search of to domesticate relationships with the president and key administration voices like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a big gamble to ally herself with the U.S. authorities and a few of its prime conservatives.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt known as Ms. Machado “a exceptional and courageous voice” for the folks of Venezuela, but additionally mentioned that the assembly did not imply Mr. Trump’s opinion of her modified, calling it “a practical evaluation.”
Mr. Trump has mentioned it will be tough for Ms. Machado to guide as a result of she “does not have the assist inside or the respect inside the nation.” Her celebration is broadly believed to have gained 2024 elections rejected by Maduro.
Ms. Leavitt went on to say that Mr. Trump supported new Venezuelan elections “when the time is correct” however didn’t say when he thought that may be.
Trump administration performs down assembly expectations
Ms. Leavitt mentioned Ms. Machado sought the face-to-face assembly with out setting expectations for what would happen. Ms. Machado beforehand provided to share with Mr. Trump the Nobel Peace Prize she gained final 12 months, an honour he has coveted.
“I do not assume he wants to listen to something from Ms. Machado,” the press secretary mentioned, apart from to have a ”frank and optimistic dialogue about what’s happening in Venezuela.”
All advised, Ms. Machado spent about two and a half hours on the White Home however left with out answering questions on whether or not she’d provided to provide her Nobel prize to Trump, saying solely “gracias.” It wasn’t clear she’d heard the query as she hugged and her ready supporters.
Ms. Machado was subsequent showing on Capitol Hill, for a gathering within the Senate earlier than planning to talk to reporters.
Her Washington cease started after U.S. forces within the Caribbean Sea seized one other sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says had ties to Venezuela.
It’s a part of a broader U.S. effort to take management of the South American nation’s oil after US forces seized Maduro and his spouse at a closely guarded compound within the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and introduced them to New York to face trial on drug trafficking expenses.
Ms. Leavitt mentioned Venezuela’s interim authorities have been absolutely cooperating with the Trump administration and that Rodríguez’s authorities mentioned it deliberate to launch extra prisoners detained beneath Maduro. Amongst these launched have been 5 People this week.
Ms. Rodríguez has adopted a much less strident place towards Mr. Trump then she did instantly after Maduro’s ouster, suggesting that she will make the Republican administration’s “America First” insurance policies towards the Western Hemisphere, work for Venezuela — not less than for now.
Mr. Trump mentioned Wednesday that he had a “nice dialog” with Ms. Rodríguez, their first since Maduro was ousted.
“We had a name, a protracted name. We mentioned numerous issues,” Trump mentioned throughout an Oval Workplace invoice signing. “And I believe we’re getting alongside very properly with Venezuela.”
Revealed – January 16, 2026 02:45 am IST
