In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, January 8, that he will host Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in Washington next week. During a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump revealed a surprising detail: Machado intends to present him with her Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel Prize Gesture and Legal Hurdles
President Trump expressed that he understood Machado wanted to give him the prestigious award, calling the potential gesture "a great honor." He was referring to the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize that Machado received for her persistent advocacy for democratic rights in Venezuela, a direct challenge to the Maduro regime.
However, this symbolic transfer faces a legal obstacle. Officials from the Nobel Institute in Oslo have clarified that a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be legally transferred once it has been awarded. The laureate, however, retains full freedom to use the accompanying monetary reward as they wish.
First Meeting Since Oslo and Shifting Venezuela Policy
This planned meeting marks the first face-to-face interaction between Trump and Machado since she emerged from hiding in Venezuela to accept her peace prize in Oslo last year. Her international recognition was widely seen as an endorsement of her leadership against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
The timing of the meeting is crucial. It comes just over a week after a major US military operation in Caracas led to the capture of Venezuela's former President, Nicolás Maduro. This event has dramatically altered the political landscape in the South American nation and its relations with the United States.
Trump's Nobel Ambitions and Future of Venezuela
President Trump has not hidden his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize, previously calling it a "major embarrassment" for Norway that he was not chosen. He has blamed the Norwegian Nobel Committee, suggesting political bias in their selection process. Machado's offer appears to stem from her public praise for US pressure on the Maduro government.
Despite Machado's elevated global profile, Trump has previously expressed skepticism about her domestic support and Venezuela's readiness for new elections amidst ongoing instability. The US has also not fully endorsed her as Venezuela's next president. Interim leadership under Delcy Rodríguez remains operational in Caracas.
White House officials indicate that the discussions will center on ensuring stability, managing a political transition, and fostering regional cooperation, though specific agenda details remain undisclosed. This meeting is a key part of the rapidly evolving US strategy towards Venezuela following Maduro's capture.
