US President Donald Trump has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize medallion by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, a move that has sparked both praise and skepticism.
According to two White House officials, Machado presented the actual medallion to Trump during her visit to the White House on Thursday. The medallion was not a replica, but rather an original award given to Bolivar, who kept it with him for his entire life. Machado said that by giving it to Trump, she is making a reciprocal gesture.
Machado had floated the idea of sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with Trump earlier this month. However, Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes clarified that the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be shared or transferred.
Trump confirmed the meeting in a Truth Social post, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect." He also described Machado as a "wonderful woman who has been through so much."
Machado told senators on Capitol Hill that she had an "extraordinary" meeting with Trump. She presented him with the medal and explained its significance, saying that it was given to Bolivar by General Lafayette as a sign of brotherhood between the US and Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny.
However, not everyone is praising the move. The Trump administration has said little about a democratic transition in Venezuela, where an interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, now holds office after former President Nicolás Maduro's arrest. Trump has also expressed doubts about Machado's ability to lead Venezuela due to her lack of support within the country.
Despite this, Machado remains optimistic, saying that "the people of Venezuela have already chosen" her coalition as their leader. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president was looking forward to the meeting and had expected it to be a positive discussion with Machado.
The move has also sparked controversy surrounding US-Venezuela relations. The Pentagon confirmed the seizure of yet another oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking at least the sixth such incident involving Venezuelan oil. The US officially began selling Venezuelan oil this week, with plans to sell up to 50 million barrels if not more.
As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Trump's relationship with Machado will play out.
According to two White House officials, Machado presented the actual medallion to Trump during her visit to the White House on Thursday. The medallion was not a replica, but rather an original award given to Bolivar, who kept it with him for his entire life. Machado said that by giving it to Trump, she is making a reciprocal gesture.
Machado had floated the idea of sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with Trump earlier this month. However, Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes clarified that the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be shared or transferred.
Trump confirmed the meeting in a Truth Social post, calling it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect." He also described Machado as a "wonderful woman who has been through so much."
Machado told senators on Capitol Hill that she had an "extraordinary" meeting with Trump. She presented him with the medal and explained its significance, saying that it was given to Bolivar by General Lafayette as a sign of brotherhood between the US and Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny.
However, not everyone is praising the move. The Trump administration has said little about a democratic transition in Venezuela, where an interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, now holds office after former President Nicolás Maduro's arrest. Trump has also expressed doubts about Machado's ability to lead Venezuela due to her lack of support within the country.
Despite this, Machado remains optimistic, saying that "the people of Venezuela have already chosen" her coalition as their leader. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president was looking forward to the meeting and had expected it to be a positive discussion with Machado.
The move has also sparked controversy surrounding US-Venezuela relations. The Pentagon confirmed the seizure of yet another oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking at least the sixth such incident involving Venezuelan oil. The US officially began selling Venezuelan oil this week, with plans to sell up to 50 million barrels if not more.
As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Trump's relationship with Machado will play out.
. So Trump gets a Nobel Peace Prize medal from someone else who thinks he deserves it? And it was even an actual award given to Simón Bolívar back in the day? That's some crazy history, right?
. Is this really the best way to make amends?
Not buying it.
. But hey, who knows what went down during that meeting? Maybe Machado just wanted to make some peace and all that jazz. Still, I gotta wonder... isn't the Nobel Prize kinda special, like, for real leaders or something? 
...and what's with the controversy over the oil tanker thing? It just feels like a big ol' mess 
...anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how things play out between Trump and Machado...
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! I mean, Machado giving Trump a Nobel Peace Prize medallion that was originally awarded to Bolivar? It sounds like something straight out of a movie 
! But for real tho, what's the real motive here? Is it just about showing some respect or is there something more going on? 
#NobelPeacePrize #VenezuelaCrisis #USVTensions
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. Maybe Trump just needs someone to keep him grounded after all this drama 
. Can't they just let a person have their own achievement for once? María Corina Machado gives the actual medal to Trump and it's already causing drama... like, what was she thinking presenting this thing to him in the first place? And now everyone's all "wait and see" how this is going to play out 
. I'm kinda curious about how this all goes down though... will Machado be able to get anything done with Trump backing her up or not? 
. I don't know, man. It all feels really staged to me.
. We'll see how this all plays out in the end, but for now... I don't know, man. Just a lot of questions and not many answers 
Guess that's one way to make amends for all the drama he caused down there!