Trump welcomes Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House
Former U.S. President Donald Trump received Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, in a meeting that drew attention amid ongoing political developments in Venezuela.
During the encounter, Trump praised what he described as a “remarkable gesture” after Machado presented him with the medal associated with her Nobel Peace Prize. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude and reiterated his long-standing interest in the prestigious award.
Earlier, Machado confirmed in a television interview that she had chosen to offer the medal as a symbolic act, calling the moment “deeply emotional.” In response, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo clarified that while laureates may freely dispose of their medals, the Nobel title itself remains strictly personal and non-transferable.
The lunch meeting, characterized by U.S. officials as a courtesy visit, took place without media access. Machado arrived at the White House shortly after midday and departed in the early afternoon. She later stated that she had conveyed the aspirations of Venezuelans for freedom, dignity, and justice, stressing that democracy remains essential to achieving those goals.
While the U.S. administration continues to exert control over Venezuela’s political and economic transition, Trump has so far ruled out organizing elections, opting instead for direct oversight of the interim leadership in Caracas. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described Machado as a courageous and influential voice for many Venezuelans.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of intensified U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s energy sector. American authorities recently seized another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean and finalized the first sale of Venezuelan oil since taking control of production and exports. Despite Venezuela holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves, years of mismanagement and corruption have severely impacted production levels.
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