Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, a senior administration official confirmed.
Machado’s visit comes amid ongoing uncertainty over Venezuela’s political future following recent U.S. military action in Caracas and the capture of long-time leader Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has since been sworn in as acting president.
Trump has not fully endorsed Machado as Venezuela’s leader, saying previously that her lack of widespread domestic support and respect would make governance difficult for her, even as she remains a prominent opposition figure. In October 2025, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democratic rights and a peaceful transition in Venezuela.
Before the meeting, Machado publicly expressed that she would like to offer her Nobel Prize to Trump in appreciation for U.S. actions that helped remove Maduro, but the Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that the Peace Prize cannot be transferred or shared once awarded.
Trump indicated he would be “honored” by such a gesture but did not directly confirm that it would change his stance on Venezuela’s leadership during remarks ahead of the talks.
Machado’s visit and meeting with Trump occur against a backdrop of complex geopolitical tensions and ongoing efforts by the U.S. to influence Venezuela’s future direction.
