Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she has no regrets about symbolically handing over her Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump [1].
The gesture underscores the deepening alignment between the Venezuelan opposition and the Trump administration's aggressive posture toward the government in Caracas.
Speaking at a news conference in Madrid, Spain, on April 18, 2026 [1], Machado said she defended the decision. She described Trump as a leader who risked the lives of his country’s citizens for Venezuela’s freedom [1].
"I have no regrets about symbolically handing over my Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump," Machado said [1].
The statement follows a period of heightened tension between the U.S. and Venezuela. The gesture occurred approximately 14 days after Trump ordered U.S. forces to attack Caracas [2].
While some reports suggested a transfer of the award, the gesture was not a physical exchange. Machado said she would symbolically give the prize, but she did not physically transfer the medal [3].
This distinction is critical as the Nobel Institute has stated that Machado cannot legally give her Peace Prize to Trump [4]. The act was intended as a political statement of gratitude, rather than a formal transfer of the honor [3].
Machado continues to advocate for a transition of power in Venezuela, citing the need for international support to achieve democratic freedom. She said there is a head of state in the world who risked the lives of his country’s citizens for Venezuela’s freedom [1].
“"I have no regrets about symbolically handing over my Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump."”
This symbolic gesture serves as a high-profile endorsement of the Trump administration's military and diplomatic pressure on the Venezuelan government. By linking her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump's actions—specifically following the order to attack Caracas—Machado is framing U.S. military intervention as a catalyst for peace and freedom, further polarizing the international debate over the legitimacy of the current Venezuelan regime.
