In a move that has sparked controversy and debate over protocol, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump. The event followed a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 15, 2026.
A Symbolic Gesture at the Capitol
Speaking to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol, Machado confirmed the presentation. "I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," she said. However, she did not clarify whether President Trump accepted or retained the physical medal.
Machado framed the act within a grand historical narrative, drawing a parallel to the Marquis de Lafayette. She noted that the French officer once gave a medal bearing George Washington's image to Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar. "Two hundred years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal — in this case, the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom," she explained.
Nobel Committee's Firm Stance
The gesture immediately collided with the formal rules of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. In a statement issued on social media platform X, the committee was unequivocal: the prestigious prize "cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others." It emphasized that the laureate's name "stands for all time" even if the medal itself changes hands physically.
This stance directly challenges the notion of the prize as a transferable object. President Trump has repeatedly stated he believes he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and was dismissive of Machado when she won it. The recent U.S.-led military operation in Venezuela, which removed Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, has been a central point in Trump's foreign policy actions.
Shifting Political Alliances
The Washington meeting marked a significant shift in dynamics. Previously, Trump had dismissed Machado as unfit to lead Venezuela, claiming she lacked the necessary "respect." Following the operation that ousted Maduro, the U.S. administration's stance appears to have pivoted.
Despite the symbolic presentation to Trump, the U.S. has vowed to work with Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, who is now serving as interim president. Reports indicate the U.S. is applying pressure on Rodriguez to comply with key demands, particularly those benefiting American oil firms operating in the oil-rich nation.
The incident underscores the complex interplay between symbolic diplomacy, personal ambition, and the rigid protocols of international awards. While Machado's gesture aimed to cement an alliance, it has instead highlighted the immutable nature of Nobel recognition as defined by its awarding committee.
