U.S. Holds Venezuela's Fate... Machado Presents Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

Opposition Leader Machado Visits the White House
Presents Trump with the Coveted "Nobel Peace Prize Medal"
Democratic Senator: "Skeptical About the Possibility of Elections"

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader and last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is greeting supporters surrounded in front of the White House on the 15th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

As U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Venezuela's interim government, Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, visited the White House on the 15th (local time). She also employed a strategy to win favor, including presenting President Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize medal that he had coveted.

According to Reuters, after the meeting, Machado told reporters that her talks with President Trump were "excellent," but she declined to provide specific details. It was anticipated that Machado would seek President Trump's support so that the opposition could exert influence over Venezuela's future governance.

Machado also revealed that she had given President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize medal she received last year for her contributions to the pro-democracy movement. She added that the gesture was meant to recognize Trump's commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. However, even though Machado handed over the medal, the ownership of the prize does not change.

Reuters noted that this gesture appears to be part of Machado's efforts to secure political influence over her country's future direction. Previously, President Trump had expressed hopes of winning the Nobel Prize, citing his mediation efforts in eight conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, but ultimately failed to win the award.

However, there appears to be no significant change in President Trump's position supporting interim President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela. Previously, President Trump, who has directly intervened in Venezuelan affairs and has had the greatest influence on the formation of the next government, has questioned Rodriguez's popular support and leadership as head of state, claiming that the Venezuelan people do not support her.

Just a day before Machado's visit to the White House, President Trump spoke with interim President Rodriguez, predicting that the cooperative relationship between the United States and Venezuela would be "great for everyone."

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also mentioned during a briefing, while the meeting at the White House was underway, that interim President Rodriguez had cooperated with the United States on issues such as oil sales, the release of political prisoners, and the release of detained Americans. She stated, "The President is pleased and expects this cooperation to continue." Regarding the formation of the next government, including the holding of democratic elections, she said it was "premature" and did not provide a detailed roadmap.

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat who met with Machado that day, told Reuters that Machado explained, "The current repression is no different from the Maduro era." Regarding interim President Rodriguez, Murphy described her as "an experienced politician consolidating power with Trump's support," adding, "I hope elections will be held, but I am skeptical."