Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says She Shared Her Nobel Peace Prize With Trump

Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado says she “presented” her Nobel Peace Prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump in an expression of gratitude for his support of democratic forces in Venezuela, a gesture that has drawn widespread attention and mixed reactions.

Machado, who has emerged as a leading voice against the Maduro government, made the announcement during a public address, describing the symbolic act as a tribute to what she called Trump’s role in highlighting Venezuela’s political struggle on the world stage. She said the presentation was meant to honor international support for human rights and democratic renewal in her country, and to reinforce what she views as shared values of liberty and justice.

The claim — unusual in its blending of international recognition and geopolitical messaging — quickly became a talking point among political commentators. Some supporters lauded the gesture as a powerful symbol of alliance between Venezuelan democracy advocates and sympathetic foreign leaders. Others questioned the optics and implications of associating a global peace award with a controversial figure whose foreign policy record includes sharp hardline tactics.

Machado’s announcement has resonated particularly among her political base, many of whom see international engagement as critical to pressuring the Maduro government and advancing a transition to free elections. In her remarks, she stressed that Venezuela’s path forward depends on both internal mobilization and sustained global attention.

Critics, however, said the proclamation risks politicizing an award meant to recognize individual contributions to peace and human rights. They noted that the Nobel Peace Prize is traditionally presented according to strict committee guidelines, and that Machado’s interpretation may be more metaphorical than formal.

The news has sparked debate across Latin American political circles and among international observers, with some viewing the statement as a clever bid to keep Venezuela’s crisis in the global spotlight, while others see it as an overreach that blurs lines between symbolic recognition and partisan praise.

As reactions continue to circulate, Machado reaffirmed her commitment to democratic reform and said the gesture reflects a broader struggle for accountability and human dignity — themes she said are part of Venezuela’s fight for a more inclusive future.

Author: M.J