María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader, surprised President Trump with her genuine Nobel Peace Prize medal during a visit to the White House on Thursday. The meeting was part of Machado's efforts to strengthen US-Venezuela ties.
The ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where Machado presented the medal to Trump. According to eyewitnesses, the scene was cordial and warm, with both leaders expressing their commitment to promoting peace and understanding between their countries.
Machado, who has been a vocal critic of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime, had visited the US in recent days as part of a high-profile diplomatic mission. During her visit, she met with senior officials from the Trump administration and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Machado by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in 2014 for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela, was seen as a symbolic gesture of goodwill towards the US. The prize has been highly coveted by Venezuelan opposition leaders, who have long advocated for regime change in Caracas.
Trump's administration has been critical of Maduro's authoritarian rule and has supported the Venezuelan opposition's calls for a new election. However, the two countries have also had significant differences on issues such as trade and security cooperation.
The meeting between Machado and Trump was seen as an opportunity to strengthen ties between their nations and promote a more constructive dialogue on Venezuela's crisis. The visit marked a rare moment of face-to-face engagement between a US president and a Venezuelan opposition leader, highlighting the growing importance of Venezuela in US foreign policy.
As for Machado, her meeting with Trump has been hailed by some as a significant step forward in her efforts to bring about positive change in Venezuela.
The ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where Machado presented the medal to Trump. According to eyewitnesses, the scene was cordial and warm, with both leaders expressing their commitment to promoting peace and understanding between their countries.
Machado, who has been a vocal critic of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime, had visited the US in recent days as part of a high-profile diplomatic mission. During her visit, she met with senior officials from the Trump administration and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Machado by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in 2014 for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela, was seen as a symbolic gesture of goodwill towards the US. The prize has been highly coveted by Venezuelan opposition leaders, who have long advocated for regime change in Caracas.
Trump's administration has been critical of Maduro's authoritarian rule and has supported the Venezuelan opposition's calls for a new election. However, the two countries have also had significant differences on issues such as trade and security cooperation.
The meeting between Machado and Trump was seen as an opportunity to strengthen ties between their nations and promote a more constructive dialogue on Venezuela's crisis. The visit marked a rare moment of face-to-face engagement between a US president and a Venezuelan opposition leader, highlighting the growing importance of Venezuela in US foreign policy.
As for Machado, her meeting with Trump has been hailed by some as a significant step forward in her efforts to bring about positive change in Venezuela.