“People of Bolivar” Return the Favor: Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Gifts Nobel

Invoking the “people of Bolivar,” Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump on Thursday. The gesture was described as a return of a favor granted 200 years ago by the Marquis de Lafayette to Simon Bolivar. Machado called Trump the “heir of Washington” during the White House meeting.
The presentation of the medal is a high-profile nod to Trump’s desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a statement clarifying that the prize is non-transferable. The medal may change hands, but the honor remains with Machado.
Machado’s historical comparison was intended to elevate the meeting to a diplomatic milestone. She stated that just as Lafayette had supported Bolivar, the Venezuelan people were now honoring the American leader. This narrative seeks to strengthen the bond between the two nations.
The meeting occurred despite Trump’s previous dismissal of Machado as unfit. His administration has also been pressuring interim president Delcy Rodriguez regarding U.S. oil interests, using threats of force as leverage. This suggests a complex U.S. strategy.
Machado, however, remained positive. She called the meeting “great” and emphasized Trump’s care for the Venezuelan people. The gift of the medal serves as a dramatic symbol of her reliance on U.S. support.