Maria Colina Machado awards Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump during White House visit Credit: X – The White House @WhiteHouse
Maria Colina Machado arrived at the White House with one of the world’s most powerful political symbols, the Nobel Peace Prize medal, under her arm.
By the time she left, the Venezuelan opposition leader had items of far less value, including a Trump-branded gift bag, but there was no clear sign that Washington was ready to support her political future.
The moment encapsulated the uncertainty hanging over Venezuela’s next chapter and Machado’s own ambitions.
A bold gesture for President Trump
Machado, a longtime critic of Nicolas Maduro, recently won the Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign to restore democracy in Venezuela. On Thursday, she placed a medal in the hands of Donald Trump during a highly symbolic White House visit.
It wasn’t a random act.
Mr. Trump has long said he wants to win a Nobel Prize himself, and Mr. Machado’s move appears to have been carefully planned to appeal to that instinct — a personal, high-profile offer in exchange for something much larger: explicit U.S. support as Venezuela reshuffles its leadership after Mr. Maduro’s arrest.
A photo released by the White House shows President Trump placing the medal inside a large gold frame, ready to hang on the wall. The dedication praised his “principled and decisive actions” to ensure a free Venezuela.
Trump was clearly delighted and shared the moment online. “Maria presented me with the Nobel Peace Prize for my work,” he wrote, calling it “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”
However, any momentum quickly hits a wall.
No promises, no approvals, no changes.
Shortly after the meeting, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo intervened to clarify that medals could be exchanged, but the Nobel Prize itself could not. Symbolism seemed to have clear limits.
More importantly, so did political support in Washington.
Although Machado described the meeting as “historic” and “extraordinary,” there was no announcement, endorsement, or suggestion that U.S. policy toward Venezuela had changed.
That silence is important.
Machado is one of two people being positioned as potential leaders of post-Maduro Venezuela. The United States previously recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González after a disputed 2024 election, but government-appointed officials declared Maduro the winner.
After President Maduro was captured by US military special forces, many expected Washington to openly rally behind the rebels. Instead, Trump supported Maduro’s former vice president and longtime insider, Delcy Rodriguez, as acting president. The move surprised many anti-Maduro voices.
The Trump administration has since framed Rodriguez as a stable and viable option for cooperation despite his deep ties to the previous administration.
A photo opportunity – and a reminder of reality
Machado remained publicly optimistic, saying the Trump administration understands the need to rebuild institutions, protect free speech and push for new elections to encourage Venezuelans to return home.
But behind the optimism, the reality was even harder to ignore.
Machado was photographed carrying a Trump swag bag with the president’s signature on it as she left the White House. This image quickly became iconic, revealing a striking contrast between the weight of the gift she brought and the uncertainty of what she was taking away.
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt was careful with her words. She praised Machado as a “remarkable and courageous voice” for many Venezuelans, but acknowledged that Trump’s view of her leadership prospects remains unchanged.
“His opinion hasn’t changed at this point,” Levitt said, adding that Trump believes Machado still doesn’t have the support he needs to lead Venezuela.
So far, Machado’s gamble has brought headlines, images and global attention, but no commitment from the United States.
It remains to be seen whether the Nobel Prize gesture plants seeds for future support or simply becomes a footnote in a turbulent political transition. What is clear is that symbolism alone is not enough to move Washington, at least not yet.
