16 janv. 2026
Maria Corina Machado is among the most prominent leaders of the Venezuelan opposition and a pro-democracy activist.
Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado symbolically presented Donald Trump with a Nobel Peace Prize medal during a private meeting.
Trump has backed the opposition’s claim of victory in the country’s disputed election, and criticised Machado, saying she lacked the “respect” required to lead Venezuela.
Despite this, Machado described their meeting positively, emphasising that Venezuelans are counting on Trump to help restore democracy.
Trump had earlier clarified that he would work not with Machado but with Delcy Rodríguez—Nicolás Maduro’s vice president and later interim president—warning that she could face force if she failed to meet U.S. demands, including those benefiting American oil interests.
Previously, Trump had expressed his frustration at not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize directly. The Nobel Prize committee clarified that the honour cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The recipient’s name ‘stands for all time’ even as the physical medal changes hands.
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