Donald Trump has made his stance clear: he would gladly accept the Nobel Peace Prize that María Corina Machado wants to dedicate to him for his role in the fall of Nicolás Maduro's regime.
In an interview given this Thursday to the Fox News network, the U.S. president answered directly when asked about the gesture of the Venezuelan opposition leader.
“I’ve heard she wanted to do that. It would be a great honor,” he replied.
The statement came alongside the announcement that Machado will travel to Washington next week. Trump confirmed his willingness to meet her and expressed that he looks forward to greeting her.
Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025, but since then she has insisted that she wants to share the prize with Trump.
"What he has done is historic. We definitely want to give it to him, share it with him," declared Machado a few days ago in reference to the U.S. military operation that culminated in Maduro's capture on January 3rd.
Trump: “We stopped eight wars”
After mentioning his possible meeting with Machado, Trump once again presented his favorite argument for why he deserved the Nobel: his alleged peace-making achievements. In an elevated tone, he stated:
"I managed to stop eight wars. Eight and a quarter... because you know, Thailand and Cambodia started to go against each other... so yes, it's an incredible list. We have halted eight wars."
Among the examples mentioned, he highlighted his mediation between nuclear powers. He also discussed forgotten conflicts that the international community has overlooked, in which he has intervened, such as those between Congo and Rwanda and India and Pakistan.
"It is something so beautiful,” he concluded to summarize his role as a peacemaker on a global level.
For Trump, these achievements would justify not one, but several Nobel Peace Prizes.
The president also directed his criticisms at Norway, the host country of the Nobel Committee, which he blames for not recognizing him.
“It has been a great embarrassment for Norway,” he stated.
Trump has been accusing the Committee of acting with political motivations for some time. The White House even stated that it is an organization that "prioritizes politics over peace."
The response from Oslo: The Nobel cannot be transferred
Despite the enthusiasm among the protagonists, the Nobel Institute has ruled out any legal possibility of sharing the prize.
In an official statement, spokesperson Erik Aasheim reminded that the award "cannot be revoked or transferred to others. Once it has been announced to the laureate or laureates, the decision is final."
Although the winners may use their prize money as they wish, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize exclusively belongs to María Corina Machado.
"January 3rd will go down in history."
Machado's gesture is set against a backdrop of high political tension. On January 3rd, a U.S. military operation in Caracas resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, leading to dozens of deaths.
It was an unexpected event that completely redefined the Venezuelan landscape.
Since then, Machado has publicly reiterated his gratitude to Trump, whom he regards as a key figure in the downfall of the Chavista regime:
“January 3 will go down in history as the day justice triumphed over tyranny,” he declared emphatically.
Although Machado was seen as the natural figure to lead the transition in Venezuela, Trump has questioned her suitability.
According to The Washington Post, a CIA report advised against supporting her, and the president reportedly withdrew his support upon learning that she accepted the Nobel prize on her own.
“Trump considers it an unforgivable sin that Machado did not refuse the award”, sources close to the White House stated.
In this new scenario, Trump began to support a transition led by Delcy Rodríguez, the former chavista vice president, who has now become the interim president.
Machado is trying to mend the relationship
Instead of responding with confrontation, Machado has multiplied his praise for the U.S. president.
"As soon as we received the award, I wanted to dedicate it to President Trump. If I thought he deserved it back in October, just imagine now," he recently stated.
In what has been interpreted as an act of political reconciliation, the opposition leader has chosen to yield to symbols and avoid any direct criticism.
The attempt to "share" the Nobel, although legally void, has been interpreted by analysts as a politically charged move.
However, the gesture has had an impact on the narrative. Trump has embraced it enthusiastically, while Machado is seeking—whether in the spotlight or not—to maintain the support of the main geopolitical actor in the region.
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