Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, presented her Nobel medal to US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on January 15, 2026. Machado said the gesture was made “in recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom,” and Trump confirmed he accepted the medal, describing the moment as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
The offer was symbolic, as Nobel Peace Prizes cannot be transferred or shared once awarded, according to the rules of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Nobel Institute has reiterated that while the physical medal can change hands, the title of Nobel Peace Prize laureate remains with the original recipient.
Machado, who received the award in October 2025 for her work promoting democratic rights and a peaceful transition from dictatorship in Venezuela, described the meeting as historic and a sign of continued diplomatic engagement. She told supporters outside the White House that Venezuelans “can count on President Trump” and praised his understanding of their suffering.
The visit highlighted ongoing political uncertainty in Venezuela. After the US-backed capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in early January, Trump has engaged with both Machado and interim president Delcy Rodríguez, but has publicly questioned Machado’s viability as a national leader.
Crowds of Venezuelan supporters gathered outside the White House as Machado exited, celebrating the diplomatic engagement and her gesture of presenting the framed Nobel medal to Trump.
