Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, aiming to influence the direction of Venezuelan politics. An official from the White House confirmed that Trump plans to retain the medal. Trump acknowledged the gesture in a social media post, thanking Maria for recognizing his efforts for the Venezuelan people.
Machado, pleased with the meeting, emphasized Trump’s dedication to the freedom of Venezuelans. Her gesture followed Trump’s rejection of the idea of appointing her as Venezuela’s leader after the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Despite receiving the physical medal, the Nobel Peace Prize itself remains with Machado, as the Norwegian Nobel Institute stated that the award cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked.
During their hour-long meeting, Machado and Trump discussed various issues. Following the meeting, Machado engaged with a bipartisan group of senators on Capitol Hill. While the White House expressed anticipation for the meeting, they maintained a realistic stance that Machado currently lacks the necessary support to lead the country immediately.
Meanwhile, the U.S. seized another vessel linked to Venezuela shortly before the meeting. The interception, part of a series targeting vessels carrying Venezuelan oil, occurred in the Caribbean. The U.S. military confirmed the operation, emphasizing compliance with sanctions on Venezuelan vessels.
Trump’s administration continues its efforts to control Venezuela’s oil resources, with plans for a significant investment in the country’s oil industry. The U.S. government has taken steps to seize additional tankers associated with Venezuelan oil trade, aiming to regulate oil shipments in and out of Venezuela. The vessels intercepted were either under sanctions or part of an unregulated fleet moving oil from sanctioned countries like Iran, Russia, or Venezuela.
The meeting between Machado and Trump was preceded by the U.S.’s interception of a Russian-flagged tanker shadowed by a Russian submarine, drawing condemnation from Moscow.