Donald Trump was presented with the Nobel Peace Prize medal by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado during a meeting at the White House
Donald Trump grinned after accepting a “gift” of the Venezuelan opposition leader’s Nobel peace prize.
María Corina Machado defied organisers by giving her gold medal to the US President at the White House. The pair posed for a cringe-inducing photo with the gong in a large frame amid a growing backlash.
And Trump boasted on his Truth Social platform that Machado, “presented me with her Nobel peace prize for the work I have done”, adding: “Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.” The shock move comes two weeks after the ex-Apprentice host ordered the capture of Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro.
Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, an honour Trump had openly sought, for her tireless campaign against the repressive regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. She claimed she gifted her medal to Mr Trump “in recognition [of] his unique commitment [to] our freedom”.
The politician announced outside the US Capitol on Thursday (January 15) that she has given him the medal. Machado said: “I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans. I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
She added: “We can count on President Trump.”
But Nobel organisers insisted: “A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel peace prize laureate cannot.”
Meanwhile, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, a fierce rival of Trump’s, said: “Well I’m not sure if it counts. If it’s been given to you as a sort of implicit plea not to invade your country or not to lock you up as well.”
On Mr Trump accepting the award, Khan added: “I mean it’s true to form isn’t it?”
Analysts viewed the gesture by Machado as an attempt to win over a president who has long coveted the award and who had recently shown preference for interim leader Delcy Rodríguez over Machado. Trump has received several nominations for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize from the governments of Israel, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing his roles in various regional ceasefires.
When Machado was first announced as the winner in 2025, White House officials criticised the committee, calling the decision “politics over peace” for bypassing Trump
It comes after the supposedly peace-loving US leader was this week talked down by several allies from unleashing fresh missile strikes on Iran in revenge for Tehran’s violent crackdown on protesters. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey were among the nations that warned US military action could shake the global economy and spark further tensions in an already volatile region.
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan urged: “Hopefully, the United States and Iran will resolve this issue among themselves – whether through mediators, other actors, or direct dialogue.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .