Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting on Thursday, 15 January.
Speaking to reporters at the U.S. Capitol afterwards, Machado described the gesture as symbolic. She referenced history, noting that 200 years ago General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal bearing George Washington’s face, which Bolivar kept for the rest of his life.
“It was given as a sign of the brotherhood between the United States, the people of the United States, and the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny,” she said.
Machado added that, in this spirit, the people of Bolívar are giving back a medal this time her Nobel Peace Prize as recognition of Trump’s commitment to Venezuelan freedom.
A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote, "Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!"
Machado described the meeting as "excellent." She gave no further details about the discussion but was warmly greeted by dozens of supporters outside. The lunch meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Machado and Trump.
The lunch meeting, which appeared to last slightly over an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person. Machado then met with more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies.
The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to the meeting and expected a positive discussion with Machado, whom she called “a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela.” Leavitt added that the president still believes Machado does not currently have the support or respect needed to govern Venezuela.
Machado, who fled Venezuela in December in a daring seaborne escape, was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election by a government-aligned court. While Maduro claimed victory, outside observers say opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, backed by Machado, actually won more votes.
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado last month. The Norwegian Nobel Institute says the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked.
Trump has praised interim Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez, saying she has “been very good to deal with,” while U.S. policy remains focused on rebuilding Venezuela’s economy and securing access to its oil following Maduro’s capture earlier this month.
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global spa...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had b...
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday...
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global space congress entered its second day.
Police fired tear gas at protesters blockading French high schools on Tuesday as students, teachers and parents took to the streets on the biggest day of action in a wave of demonstrations against understaffed and dilapidated classrooms.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died in Nairobi, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent contact-tracing operation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment