Machado presents Nobel medal to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on Thursday, according to Reuters.

A White House representative said Trump plans to keep the medal. The president later posted on social media that Machado had given him the medal in recognition of his work, calling the gesture respectful and meaningful.

Machado said the gift reflected her appreciation for what she described as Trump’s support for the Venezuelan people. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has, however, stated that while she gave him the physical medal, the Nobel Peace Prize itself remains hers and cannot be transferred.

Trump has openly expressed his interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and had publicly campaigned for it before Machado won the award last month.

Machado fled Venezuela by sea in December and has been seeking international support as the country undergoes a political transition following Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces in early January. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had looked forward to the meeting with her but that he maintains that Machado lacks sufficient support to govern Venezuela.

Earlier this month, Trump said his priorities include gaining access to Venezuela’s oil sector and supporting economic recovery. He also publicly praised the interim President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez, describing her as cooperative.

Rodríguez has recently announced the release of dozens of political prisoners and proposed reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment to Venezuela’s oil industry.