US President Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday. This was his first face-to-face meeting with any Venezuelan leader after kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. After the meeting, Machado said that he had presented the Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump. He said, ‘I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans.’ Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Machado talked about handing over his award to Trump, but did not provide any other information. At the same time, the White House also did not tell whether Trump accepted the medal or not. After leaving the White House, Machado told supporters gathered outside in Spanish, “We can trust President Trump.” However, Trump has not yet endorsed Machado as Venezuela’s new leader. Instead he is working with Venezuela’s acting President Delsey Rodriguez. Nobel Institute said – The owner of the medal can change, but not the title. Trump has always expressed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When Machado received this, he expressed his displeasure. On the other hand, the Nobel Committee had earlier said that once the Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be cancelled. Neither can it be shared nor transferred to anyone else. This decision is final and will remain valid forever. At the same time, before the meeting held at the White House on Thursday, the Nobel Institute posted on X that the owner of a medal can change, but the title of Nobel Peace Prize winner cannot change. Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025. He received this honor for ‘his efforts for the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and his peaceful fight against dictatorship’. There was no discussion on elections in Venezuela between Trump and Machado. When asked in the press conference after the meeting whether any deadline has been set for possible elections in Venezuela, White House Press Secretary Carolina Levitt said that there was no discussion on this with Machado. He said, ‘I am not sure that the President is talking about such a topic in this meeting. I don’t think they need to hear anything from Machado. This was a meeting in which Trump was prepared to meet Machado in person and talk about Venezuela. ‘Machado is a remarkable and courageous voice for many Venezuelans,’ Levitt said. Trump-Machado meeting took place behind closed doors. Trump-Machado meeting took place behind closed doors. Trump did not issue any statement after the meeting, as is done after any meeting. However, Machado described the conversation between them as positive. She said, “I was impressed by Trump’s candor, his understanding of the situation in Venezuela, and his concern for the pain of the Venezuelan people.” He further said that Venezuela is “united”. In place of Maria, her daughter had received the Peace Prize. Maria Corina Machado could not attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. In Maria’s place, her daughter Anna Corina Sosa received the award in Oslo, Norway. Anna also read a speech written by her mother at the ceremony. Machado had said in his written message that struggle is necessary to save democracy and freedom. He said that this award is important not only for Venezuela but for the whole world. Machado was hit with a travel ban. She had been living in hiding for more than a year, so she could not reach Oslo in time. Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate before the 2024 elections, but her candidacy was canceled by the Venezuelan government. He then supported Edmundo González Urrutia, representative of the other party. It also received international support. In Venezuela, Machado’s supporting party won a clear victory but the regime did not accept the election results and retained power. Machado first came into limelight in the world when she stopped the speech of the then President of Venezuela. This incident is of 14 January 2012. Chavez had given a speech of 9 hours 45 minutes in the parliament. Then Machaho shouted at them, calling them ‘thieves’ and asking them to return the confiscated property of the people. In response, Chavez said that he would not debate because he was not capable of it. The incident became a national topic of discussion and established Machado as a courageous opposition leader. ———————————
Source link
[ad_3]
Daily Latest News