María Corina Machado Proposes Sharing Nobel Peace Prize with Trump

María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, made headlines during a recent television interview by directly appealing to US President Donald Trump. Despite Trump’s previous dismissal of her as a potential successor to Nicolás Maduro, Machado offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with him, highlighting her belief in a democratic transition for Venezuela.

In her first televised appearance since the United States launched military actions in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro, Machado spoke to Sean Hannity on Fox News. She commended the US intervention, calling it “a huge step towards a democratic transition.” Machado emphasized that the Nobel Peace Prize she received in October 2025 was not just for her, but belonged to the Venezuelan people. “We want to give it to him and share it with him,” she stated, referring to Trump.

In the course of the interview, Hannity inquired whether she had formally offered the prize to Trump, to which Machado responded, “It hasn’t happened yet. We want to give it to him.” This gesture comes amidst a complex political landscape in Venezuela, where Machado has been barred from running for office. Her ally, Edmundo González, stepped in to contest the elections in her place.

Despite her efforts to engage with Trump, he has shown reluctance to support Machado or González. Recently, Trump endorsed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president and oil minister, as the interim leader of Venezuela. Trump remarked that Machado “doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country,” and acknowledged her as a “very nice woman,” but indicated doubts about her leadership potential.

Machado responded to Trump’s comments by asserting her vision for an opposition-led government that could transform Venezuela into a vital ally for the United States and a significant player in the region’s energy sector. She argued that her administration would stimulate foreign investment and encourage the return of millions of Venezuelans who fled the country during Maduro’s regime. “We will leave behind all the destruction this socialist, criminal regime has brought to our people and turn Venezuela into the main ally of the United States in Latin America,” she claimed.

The path forward for Machado and her political movement remains uncertain. Trump has not clarified whether new elections will be organized, opting instead to state that the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela’s transition. Machado, who has been in hiding since the 2024 election, expressed her intention to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible,” after a secret trip to Norway to receive her Nobel Peace Prize.

This dramatic political moment underscores the ongoing struggle for democracy in Venezuela and the complicated relationship between its opposition leaders and the United States. As the situation evolves, the implications of Machado’s appeal and the US’s actions will continue to resonate in both national and international contexts.