File photos
US President Donald Trump on Thursday met Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. The meeting was confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who described Machado as “a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela,” and said Trump had anticipated a “good and positive discussion.” However, Leavitt played down expectations that the meeting marked a shift in Trump’s stance toward Machado’s political future. Asked whether the president still believed she lacked sufficient support to lead Venezuela, Leavitt said his view remained unchanged. “I think the president’s assessment that you just pointed out was based on realities on the ground. It was a realistic assessment based on what the president was reading and hearing from his advisors and national security team, and at this moment in time,” she said.
Leavitt added that Trump remains “committed to hopefully seeing elections in Venezuela one day,” but declined to specify any timeline. Machado later told reporters that she had presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, calling it “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.” The White House did not immediately confirm whether Trump accepted the medal. The meeting followed a closed-door discussion at the White House, after which Machado briefly greeted supporters gathered outside. “We can count on President Trump,” she told them, prompting chants of “Thank you, Trump”. The meeting comes less than two weeks after US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas and transported them to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Machado’s political coalition is widely believed to have won Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, results that were rejected by Maduro before his arrest. Despite Thursday’s meeting, Trump has previously questioned Machado’s credibility and ability to govern. He has also signalled a willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, who continues to oversee day-to-day government operations alongside other members of the ousted leader’s inner circle. Leavitt saidthat Machado sought the meeting without preconditions. “I don’t think he needs to hear anything from Ms. Machado,” she said, beyond a “frank and positive discussion about what’s taking place in Venezuela.” Machado spent roughly two and a half hours at the White House and later visited Capitol Hill for meetings with senators. She did not answer questions from reporters about the Nobel medal as she departed, responding only with “gracias.” The White House meeting took place as Washington intensifies pressure on Venezuela’s oil sector, including the recent seizure of a sanctioned tanker linked to Caracas. US officials say interim authorities under Rodríguez have been cooperating with Washington, including releasing detainees held under Maduro. Five Americans were freed earlier this week. However, the acting president, in her address to parliament, said that she “was not afraid” of “diplomatic clashes” with the US. She further said that she told the US government to show “respect for the dignity” of ousted leader Maduro. Trump said on Wednesday that he had a “great conversation” with Rodríguez, his first since Maduro’s ouster. “We had a call, a long call. We discussed a lot of things,” Trump said. “And I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela.” Even so, Trump has continued to express scepticism about Machado’s leadership prospects. Shortly after Maduro’s capture, he said it would be “very tough for her to be the leader,” arguing she lacked sufficient support within the country. Machado, who has spent much of the past year in hiding after briefly being detained in Caracas, has sought to avoid openly confronting Trump, while quietly building ties with US conservatives and senior officials. Her appearance in Washington marks one of her highest-profile public outings since winning the Nobel Peace Prize last year. Go to Source
