By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, but through an unusual twist of geopolitics and symbolism, he has ended up with the 18-karat gold medal itself.
María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, presented her medal to Trump during a private meeting at the White House on Thursday. She said the gesture was meant to thank him for the U.S. military raid on Jan. 3 that removed Venezuela’s longtime leader, Nicolás Maduro, from power.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump thanked Machado for the gift, though he did not say what he plans to do with it.
“It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today,” Trump wrote. “She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!”
He later shared a photograph of himself with Machado and the medal.
In an interview with Fox News, Machado said she gave Trump the medal “because he deserves it.”
“I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela,” she said.
The gesture is symbolic and does not make Trump an official Nobel laureate. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has made clear that the prize cannot be transferred or shared and that Machado remains the sole recipient of the 2025 award.
Still, the physical medal belonged to Machado, and she was free to give it away. She had previously dedicated the prize to Trump, crediting his support for Venezuela’s democratic movement. The Nobel committee honored Machado for her efforts to promote democratic rights in Venezuela.
Trump has long expressed frustration at never receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, despite repeatedly arguing that he deserves one — or several — for conflicts he says he helped end. The committee again bypassed him when selecting Machado.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill later Thursday, Machado explained her decision by drawing a historical parallel. Just as the Marquis de Lafayette once honored Simón Bolívar during South America’s independence struggles, she said, she wanted to recognize Trump for helping free Venezuela from oppression.
“The people of Bolívar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal — in this case, a Nobel Peace Prize medal — as recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom,” she said.
The meeting reflected overlapping interests. Machado hopes to one day lead a democratically elected Venezuelan government and needs U.S. backing to push a political transition. Trump, meanwhile, wants recognition for his foreign policy actions.
Despite the praise, the Trump administration has so far sidelined Machado politically. The White House is relying on remnants of Maduro’s former government to manage Venezuela’s day-to-day affairs, backing former vice president Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s interim leader. After the raid, Trump described Machado as a “very nice woman” but said she lacked sufficient respect inside Venezuela.
Some Republicans disagree. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida called Machado “an unbelievable leader” and said he believes she has the respect needed to become president.
The White House has indicated it is in no rush to replace Rodríguez. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the administration is satisfied with the cooperation it has received so far.
“They have been extremely cooperative,” Leavitt said. “They have thus far met all of the demands and requests of the United States and of the president.”
Ahead of the meeting, Machado had hinted she might give Trump the medal, saying Venezuelans wanted to “share it with him.” A senior White House official suggested Trump would be inclined to accept it if offered.
“If she wants to gift him something, he’s not one to refuse a gift,” the official said.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted Trump would keep the medal, possibly displaying it in the Oval Office. Former national security adviser Robert O’Brien said accepting it was a smart move that signaled gratitude for Trump’s decision to remove Maduro.
Others said a different president might have declined. Lewis Lukens, a former senior U.S. diplomat, said the traditional response would be to insist the prize belongs to its original winner.
“But I can totally see Trump saying, ‘Thank you very much. I deserve it, and I’m going to keep it,’” Lukens said.
Trump has been formally nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by several lawmakers and world leaders. The Nobel committee is expected to announce its decision in October.
In the meantime, Trump has openly complained about not winning the prize, recently calling it an “embarrassment” for Norway. Former U.S. Ambassador to Norway Marc Nathanson said such comments are unlikely to help his chances, noting the committee’s independence.
Former Norwegian Ambassador Kåre Aas added that Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland have likely hurt his standing.
What ultimately happens to Machado’s medal remains unclear — whether it stays in the White House, moves to Trump’s presidential library or is displayed elsewhere. President Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize hangs in the Roosevelt Room near the Oval Office, a precedent some say could offer a fitting home.
“I just watch with amazement to see what happens next,” Gingrich said.
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