Venezuelan Opposition Leader Offers Trump Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made headlines on Monday by praising Donald Trump during her first televised interview since the United States took action against Nicolás Maduro. Appearing on Fox News, Machado expressed her desire for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded in October 2024. This gesture comes as Trump has remained reluctant to endorse the Venezuelan opposition, which includes Machado and her ally, Edmundo González.

In her ten-minute interview, Machado appealed directly to Trump, stating that the Nobel Peace Prize represents the Venezuelan people and should be shared with him. “Because this is the prize of the Venezuelan people, certainly we want to give it to him and share it with him,” she told host Sean Hannity. Machado has not communicated with Trump since dedicating the prize to him last October.

Trump’s support for the Venezuelan opposition has been conditional. He has instead opted to back Maduro’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, as the interim leader. Trump remarked on Saturday that Machado lacks respect and support within Venezuela, which he believes diminishes her viability as a leader. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” he stated.

The U.S. administration’s stance against the opposition is rooted in advice from senior officials, including Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State. A classified CIA analysis reportedly indicated that backing the opposition could destabilize Venezuela further. Machado, in response, asserted that the opposition could transform Venezuela into a key ally of the United States and an energy hub for the Americas.

Machado emphasized the potential for Venezuela to recover from what she termed a “criminal regime.” She stated, “We will leave behind all the destruction this socialist regime has brought to our people.” She also claimed that the opposition would secure over 90 percent of the vote in free and fair elections, although the process for new elections remains unclear.

After her election campaign in 2024, Machado went into hiding for more than a year. In December, she secretly left Venezuela to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. Although she missed the formal award ceremony, she made an appearance in Oslo to greet supporters. “I am planning to go back as soon as possible,” she said on Monday, while maintaining her current location undisclosed. “Every day I make a decision where I am more useful for our cause.”

The dynamics of U.S. support for Venezuela’s opposition continue to evolve, with Machado’s public appeal marking a significant moment in the ongoing political struggle against Maduro. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely to see how these developments impact Venezuela’s future.