Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a private meeting at the White House on Thursday. While Machado praised the day as historic for Venezuelans, it remains unclear if Trump accepted the medal. This handshake moment comes amidst continuing political tensions in Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro.

In the wake of US forces apprehending Maduro in Caracas earlier this year, Trump has not endorsed Machado, whose coalition claimed victory in the disputed 2024 Venezuelan elections. The US acknowledges Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice-president under Maduro, as Venezuela’s interim leader. Addressing supporters outside the White House, Machado declared in Spanish that Venezuelans could rely on Trump. In English, she conveyed the medal presentation as recognition for Trump's dedication to Venezuelan freedom.

Despite Machado’s gesture, Trump, known for expressing interest in the Nobel Peace Prize, had previously shown annoyance at her receipt of the award last year. The Nobel Committee clarified the award is not transferable, leaving its acceptance by Trump unresolved. During her Washington visit, Machado also interacted with US senators amidst vocal support from her followers.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Machado "a remarkable and brave voice" and confirmed Trump’s intent to discuss Venezuelan realities directly with her. Trump's administration has been swift in restructuring Venezuela’s oil industry post-Maduro, recently completing a $500 million sale of Venezuelan oil. Machado had hoped to shift Trump's support away from Rodríguez's interim government and towards her coalition, according to the BBC.

Key Takeaways:

• Machado offered her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump, but acceptance remains unclear.

• The US backs former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s acting leader.

• The Trump administration has begun selling Venezuelan oil, fetching $500 million.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2026-01-16

 

 

She should have flipped him off like our man at the ford plant.It won’t do any good anyway Donnie’s not in the least bit interested in helping Venezuela.

Trump got a peace prize the same way Putin got a Superbowl ring. He stole it.

Insane times,,,

49 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Trump got a peace prize the same way Putin got a Superbowl ring. He stole it.

When something is given to you it is by definition not stolen. If she's actually given it to him seems to be unknown but either way it's symbolic only.

The football player gave the Superbowl ring to putin to look at and he put it in his pocket. Same same.

A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred

9 Jan 2026

The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive a number of requests for comments regarding the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status. The facts are clear and well established. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.

https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/press-releases/a-nobel-prize-cannot-be-revoked-shared-or-transferred

But what would Norway know. Did you know they're at around 97% EV adoption?

Well deserved.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

When something is given to you it is by definition not stolen. If she's actually given it to him seems to be unknown but either way it's symbolic only.

If given under duress such as threat of death or blackmail it is stolen.

I believe the woman had no choice!

Trump doesn't want her to run the country so he will renege on any promises made.

The creep has his peace prize but stole it by invading a country .

I don't blame her.

What choice does she have?

Sucking up to Trump is her best chance to get help to further democracy in Venezuela.

But it won't work of course. Trump has no interest in that.

If he takes the literal medal, the Nobel people should send her another and make it very clear she is the only winner, and the one Trump has is not legit.

11 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

If given under duress such as threat of death or blackmail it is stolen.

This is 100% deranged. She arranged the meeting with Trump.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Well deserved.

For what?

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Well deserved.

I agree, he has only launched military strikes on 8 or so countries

Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Venezuela and Iran.

Definitely deserves the peace price for limiting it to only 8 countries.

WTF. Cringe worthy and puerile moment that he will accept the hand-me-down medal from the rightful winner. What more can be said about Trump's vanity, ego, unethical, indecency and dishonourably behavior. Just add to USA fast sliding global image.

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Just add to USA fast sliding global image.

It's slid already

She had no choice, he threatened to hold his breath until he died if she didn't hand it over.

One way to fight old age is immaturity, I have an ex who would be capable of teaching a course in that one.

Well it happened.

Note he didn’t promise her anything.

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I agree, he has only launched military strikes on 8 or so countries

Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Venezuela and Iran.

Fake news.

5 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

For what?

For clearing up Biden's mess

8 hours ago, Tug said:

She should have flipped him off like our man at the ford plant.It won’t do any good anyway Donnie’s not in the least bit interested in helping Venezuela.

I was angry at first that she would lick his boots. Then I did a reassessment and considered that the Nobel prize has little or no intrinsic value for most recipients. She, however, can trade it for a ruling position in her country. She understands that Trump is a petulant child, unhappy to lose the prize to her and said she could never rule because the Venezuelan people did not like her. Such a child. As many people know, stroking his ego is a good bargaining position.

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

WTF. Cringe worthy and puerile moment that he will accept the hand-me-down medal from the rightful winner. What more can be said about Trump's vanity, ego, unethical, indecency and dishonourably behavior. Just add to USA fast sliding global image.

I was angry at first that she would lick his boots. Then I did a reassessment and considered that the Nobel prize has little or no intrinsic value for most recipients. She, however, can trade it for a ruling position in her country. She understands that Trump is a petulant child, unhappy to lose the prize to her and said she could never rule because the Venezuelan people did not like her. Such a child. As many people know, stroking his ego is a good bargaining position.

For Trump, receiving a second hand gong is not much different too Trump's caddy sorting his in play golf ball out.........🤗

17 minutes ago, Des1 said:

I was angry at first that she would lick his boots. Then I did a reassessment and considered that the Nobel prize has little or no intrinsic value for most recipients. She, however, can trade it for a ruling position in her country. She understands that Trump is a petulant child, unhappy to lose the prize to her and said she could never rule because the Venezuelan people did not like her. Such a child. As many people know, stroking his ego is a good bargaining position.

Foreign leaders, politicians, donors and corporations have all taken advantage of this man-child by simply stroking his ego. Trump has no moral compass and it gets scary when he say that his policies are guided by his morality. The country is doomed for next 3 years and will take years to recover after he is gone.

6 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I agree, he has only launched military strikes on 8 or so countries

Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Venezuela and Iran.

Definitely deserves the peace price for limiting it to only 8 countries.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Fake news.

Which one(s) ?

7 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This is 100% deranged. She arranged the meeting with Trump.

She was coerced -- mafia Don style.

As said, it won't help her or the Venezuelan people either.

What a DISGRACE!

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Well deserved.

You think so? I think it is one of the most pathetic acts of a pathetic narcissist!

I suppose there will be those (you amongst them) who will regard it as a richly deserved tribute to his status as an International Statesman, a man of notable honour and a champion of non violent solutions to matters both International and domestic. No doubt they will be along in due course...

I'll say it again, utterly pathetic - and some people wonder why so many laugh at him!

I'll say this for the sellout. Her Joker smile slips only a little even in the face of utter degradation. There she was scribbling her acceptance speech, "I will be President of Venezuela on behalf of Trump, I mean the Venezuelan people. ... All our oil shall now be pumped by American oil companies for the enrichment of a small number, I mean a large number, I mean the Venezuelan people..."

At which time Trump says, "Naah, she's not respected. She'll be dragged into the streets by the people. I'll stick with Delcy." So what does the poor woman do? She eats the humiliation and - drum roll - flies to DC to hand the Prize to the man who threw her under the bus.

Sad, but spare a thought now for the wusses on the other side of the Atlantic. They gave her the Prize because Massah USA assured them that she'd be President of Venezuela and they could expect crumbs from the Venezuela-US oil bonanza. But then Massah went and did an about-face and the woman they'd never heard of before Massah said she'd be the one, gives the Prize, their Prize, away like it's airplane swag.

So who do you pity more? The Joker or the wusses?

An ageing 5 year old child receives his graduation certificate for kindergarten Year 2 from his teacher.

21 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I agree, he has only launched military strikes on 8 or so countries

Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Venezuela and Iran.

Definitely deserves the peace price for limiting it to only 8 countries.

But Obama got one?

Honestly that's where it went wrong

On 1/16/2026 at 6:45 AM, dinsdale said:

When something is given to you it is by definition not stolen. If she's actually given it to him seems to be unknown but either way it's symbolic only.

Struggling to justify this eh? But a loyal attempt I suppose.

Face it, it was utterly pathetic!

22 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I agree, he has only launched military strikes on 8 or so countries

Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Venezuela and Iran.

Definitely deserves the peace price for limiting it to only 8 countries.

17 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Fake news.

I'm still waiting to hear which one or ones you think are fake. ?