Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented what she described as her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, recognizing what she called his commitment to Venezuela's freedom. The meeting took place weeks after U.S. forces apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on drug-trafficking charges.

Machado, after meeting Trump in person for the first time, characterized the event as a "historic day" for Venezuelans. Trump acknowledged the gesture on social media, calling it "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect." However, the Nobel committee clarified that the prize itself is not transferable.

The political landscape in Venezuela remains complex. While Machado's movement claimed victory in the widely contested 2024 elections, Trump has not endorsed her as Venezuela's new leader. Instead, the U.S. president has been engaging with Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president, who is currently acting as the head of state.

Trump described meeting Machado as a "great honor," referring to her as a "wonderful woman who has been through so much." The situation unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing political and economic instability in Venezuela, a nation that holds significant geopolitical importance due to its vast oil reserves and strategic location in South America. The country has been grappling with hyperinflation, shortages of essential goods, and a mass exodus of its citizens in recent years.

The United States has long been involved in Venezuelan affairs, particularly concerning its oil industry and its stance against socialist regimes in the region. The apprehension of Maduro and the subsequent interactions with both Machado and Rodríguez signal a continued, albeit complex, U.S. interest in shaping Venezuela's future. The next steps remain uncertain as international actors, including other South American nations and global powers, closely monitor the evolving situation. Machado spoke to supporters gathered after leaving the White House, though details of that address were not immediately available.