Washington D.C. | Jan 15 — GeokHub Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday in Washington, where she reportedly presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal in recognition of what she described as his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
It is not clear whether Trump formally accepted the medal. Machado called the meeting “excellent,” emphasizing her efforts to influence the future political trajectory of Venezuela following recent turmoil in the country.
First In-Person Meeting With Trump
Thursday’s encounter marked the first in-person meeting between Machado and Trump. After their discussion, Machado met with over a dozen U.S. senators on Capitol Hill, engaging both Republicans and Democrats in conversations about Venezuela’s path toward democracy.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump had been looking forward to the meeting and praised Machado as “a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela.” However, she stressed that the president maintains a “realistic” assessment of her current political influence in Venezuela.
Political Context in Venezuela
Machado fled Venezuela in December and has been vying to play a significant role in shaping the country’s governance. The meeting comes shortly after the U.S. captured longtime Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. While Maduro’s interim replacement, Delcy Rodriguez, continues to consolidate power, opposition figures and members of the Venezuelan diaspora are advocating for democratic reforms.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told reporters that Machado highlighted the ongoing repression in Venezuela and warned that Rodriguez was entrenching her influence. Despite hopes for elections, some lawmakers remain skeptical about the pace of democratic change.
Trump has consistently emphasized U.S. access to Venezuelan oil and economic rebuilding as key priorities, while also praising Rodriguez for her cooperation. Meanwhile, Machado and her allies continue to push for a transition toward democratic governance, even as political restrictions limit her ability to run for office.
