Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has said she has “no regrets” about symbolically presenting her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Speaking at a news conference in Madrid, Machado praised Trump’s actions, claiming he “risked the lives of his country’s citizens for Venezuela’s freedom.”
The gesture came shortly after Trump ordered a military operation targeting Caracas, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro is currently detained in New York and facing drug-related charges.
Despite the symbolic handover, the Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred or shared.
Machado defended her decision, calling the operation against Maduro a defining moment for Venezuela, adding that it is something “Venezuelans will never forget.”
Now outside Venezuela after a period in hiding, Machado said she is coordinating with international partners, including Washington, for a possible return. She also urged supporters to prepare for rebuilding the country.
The opposition has recently called for new presidential elections, although Machado remains barred from contesting following the disputed 2024 vote that secured Maduro’s re-election.