Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed to have given her Nobel Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House, contradicting the Nobel Institute's statement that she wasn't allowed to do so.
In a move seen as symbolic, Machado said she presented the prize "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom." The gesture was extraordinary, especially given Trump has questioned Machado's ability to take over Venezuela and has instead signaled willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
Trump confirmed that Machado had left the medal for him to keep. He praised her as a "wonderful woman who has been through so much" and stated it was an honor to meet her, describing their meeting as a "frank and positive discussion about what's taking place in Venezuela."
However, Trump has raised doubts about his commitment to supporting democratic rule in Venezuela and the timing of new elections. Machado didn't provide details on the conversation during their meeting.
The opposition leader's visit coincided with US forces seizing another sanctioned oil tanker tied to Venezuela, a broader effort to take control of South America's oil. Trump said he had a "great conversation" with Rodriguez, who has taken charge of day-to-day government operations since Maduro's ouster.
Machado's attempts to cultivate relationships with the Trump administration have been met with skepticism. The president initially stated it would be "very tough for her to be the leader," sparking criticism from some lawmakers who expressed support for Machado.
In a move seen as symbolic, Machado said she presented the prize "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom." The gesture was extraordinary, especially given Trump has questioned Machado's ability to take over Venezuela and has instead signaled willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
Trump confirmed that Machado had left the medal for him to keep. He praised her as a "wonderful woman who has been through so much" and stated it was an honor to meet her, describing their meeting as a "frank and positive discussion about what's taking place in Venezuela."
However, Trump has raised doubts about his commitment to supporting democratic rule in Venezuela and the timing of new elections. Machado didn't provide details on the conversation during their meeting.
The opposition leader's visit coincided with US forces seizing another sanctioned oil tanker tied to Venezuela, a broader effort to take control of South America's oil. Trump said he had a "great conversation" with Rodriguez, who has taken charge of day-to-day government operations since Maduro's ouster.
Machado's attempts to cultivate relationships with the Trump administration have been met with skepticism. The president initially stated it would be "very tough for her to be the leader," sparking criticism from some lawmakers who expressed support for Machado.
that machado is a crazy woman lol, i mean i think she's trying to make a point but like um shouldn't she've asked permission or something? it's not just about giving away her prize, it's also about the politics behind it... and trump kinda contradicts himself on this one, saying he wants to work with delcy rodriguez but also being all skeptical about machado taking over. i don't know if this is a good move for venezuela or just some publicity stunt 
I'm not buying this story at all... think about it, what's really going on here? 
And don't even get me started on Rodriguez... she's probably in on it too! 
This whole thing reeks of politics and manipulation. Mark my words, there's more to this story than meets the eye... 
. I mean, on one hand, it's amazing that Maria Corina Machado is fighting for democracy in Venezuela and trying to reach out to people like Trump who might be able to help. But at the same time, it feels super weird that she just handed him a Nobel Peace Prize out of the blue 
. I'm not sure what Trump's true intentions are here, but if he really is committed to supporting democratic rule in Venezuela, then this whole thing should be about helping her people, not getting some kind of PR boost 
i mean, it's not like trump has been super supportive of venezuelan democracy in the past, so it's kinda interesting to see him being all warm and fuzzy with machado over a peaceful solution 
... but at the same time, it feels like she might be playing the long game here? trying to get on his good side before things get really messy 
what do you guys think? 
, but on the other hand, his administration has been skeptical about supporting democratic rule in Venezuela 
, while Machado is trying to build alliances with the US president himself 
. It's like trying to balance the scales of justice 
! Machado giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump? Like, I get it, she's trying to reach out and build bridges, but can't she see how that's gonna be twisted around his regime change attempts? 
. And what's up with this whole oil tanker thing? It feels like the US is just trying to muscle in on Venezuela's resources again 
And now he's just gonna keep the prize as some sort of trophy, like a "Hey, look at me, I'm the real winner here!" 
It also highlights the fact that Trump has been open to working with Delcy Rodriguez, which is a bit of a departure from his initial stance.
Still, if she genuinely believes that Trump is committed to supporting democracy in Venezuela, then it's worth exploring further.
It feels like there's a lot more going on beneath the surface here, and it's not entirely clear what Trump's ultimate goals are.
.