Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, second from right, is welcomed by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., center, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as she visits American leaders two weeks after President Donald Trump toppled Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, at the Capitol in Washington. (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump accepted a Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a White House meeting on Thursday.
Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month, handed over the gold medal that comes with the award. A White House official said Trump plans to keep it.
In a post on social media later on Thursday, Trump said: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!”
Machado described the meeting as “excellent” but did not give further details. She said the medal was a gesture recognising what she called Trump’s commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
The Nobel Peace Prize itself remains with Machado. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has said the award cannot be transferred, shared or taken away.
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When asked earlier this week whether he wanted the prize, Trump told Reuters: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump has previously spoken about wanting to win the award and has linked it to his diplomatic efforts.
Nobel medal presented during White House meeting
“I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters after leaving the White House, according to AP. She said the gesture was meant as “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is welcomed by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., left, as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient arrives for meetings with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday. (Photo: AP)
The White House said earlier that if Machado attempted to give Trump the medal, it would be up to the president whether to accept it. The Nobel Institute has previously clarified that while a physical medal can change hands, the Nobel Peace Prize title itself cannot be shared or transferred.
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Trump, who has often spoken publicly about his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize, has not commented on the meeting.
Machado seeks backing as Trump works with interim leaders
Machado, a long-time opponent of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro, met Trump for about two and a half hours. It was their first in-person meeting.
Afterwards, she greeted supporters gathered outside the White House gates, telling them, “We can count on President Trump,” AP reported. She did not give details of any commitments made during the meeting.
Despite praising Machado as “a remarkable and brave voice”, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting did not signal a change in Trump’s view that Machado may not have enough support inside Venezuela to lead the country.
Trump has instead shown willingness to work with acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro’s deputy and remains in charge of day-to-day government operations.
No clear path on elections or transfer of power
Machado’s visit comes after US forces captured Maduro earlier this month and brought him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. However, Trump has not endorsed Machado as Venezuela’s next leader and has given no clear timeline for elections.
Leavitt said Trump supports new elections in Venezuela “when the time is right”, but did not say when that might be.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, center, is welcomed by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., left, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., far left, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., right, as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient visits American leaders at the Capitol in Washington. (Photo: AP)
After meeting Trump, Machado held closed-door talks with US senators. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, said Machado warned lawmakers that without progress towards elections or a transition of power in the coming months, the situation could worsen.
Machado told senators that Rodríguez was “in many ways, worse than Maduro”.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has moved quickly to reshape Venezuela’s oil sector and has seized tankers linked to the country as part of its pressure campaign.
While Machado continues to press for full opposition leadership of the transition, Trump has so far avoided giving her that role, instead keeping lines open with Venezuela’s interim authorities.
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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, second from right, is welcomed by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., center, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as she visits American leaders two weeks after President Donald Trump toppled Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, at the Capitol in Washington. (Photo: AP) 
