Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is pictured arriving for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, shown attending a separate event later in the day, in this combination of images taken at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
(Washington, DC) – President Donald J. Trump met this week with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, a high-profile figure in the fight against Venezuela’s socialist government, in a meeting both sides described as consequential for the country’s future.
Following the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was a “great honor” to speak with Machado, praising her resilience and leadership. He said Machado presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a gesture of appreciation for what she described as his support for democratic efforts in Venezuela.
Machado echoed that message in a public statement, thanking Trump for what she called a meaningful conversation with his administration and reaffirming Venezuelans’ trust in the United States. She said the discussion reinforced a shared vision of a “free and sovereign Venezuela” and framed the U.S. as a future partner and ally in the hemisphere.
The exchange was largely symbolic, Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded to individuals and cannot be transferred, but the gesture underscored the growing political alignment between Trump and Venezuela’s opposition movement as pressure continues to mount against the country’s ruling regime.
The meeting comes as Washington weighs its next steps on Venezuela, with Trump signaling a tougher posture toward authoritarian governments in the region and renewed support for opposition leaders pushing democratic reforms.
Neither side announced specific policy actions following the meeting, but both framed the conversation as the start of deeper cooperation, with Machado positioning the United States as a central partner in Venezuela’s push to reclaim democratic governance.
