Venezuelan opposition leader offers to ‘share’ Nobel Peace Prize with Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado heaped praise on President Donald Trump following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.

In her first televised interview since the strike, Machado late Monday appeared to seek support from Trump, who has not backed her to lead the country in the aftermath of the strike.

“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump said during a press conference on Saturday, the same day of the raid. “She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.”

Machado, who is widely seen as Maduro’s credible opponent after attempting to run against him in 2024, went as far as to offer Trump her Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded in October amid a long-sought campaign from him to receive it.

“Because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people, [we] certainly want to give it to him and share it with him,” she told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “What he has done as I said is historic.”

Although she noted she has not spoken to Trump since becoming the recipient, Machado had dedicated the prize to him at the time. She received the recognition for her work in promoting democratic rights in Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a peaceful transition from a dictatorship.

“January 3 will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny,” Machado said in the new interview. “It’s a milestone, and it’s not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it’s a huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.”

Trump has instead indicated that he is willing to work with Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president of Venezuela, who was sworn in as the country’s interim president on Monday.

He told NBC News that Machado “should not have won” the award, but said it has “nothing to do” with his decision. He added that Rodríguez has been cooperating with U.S. officials.

During his first appearance in U.S. court on Monday, Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty, while the Venezuelan leader insisted he still remained the head of the country. Maduro is facing federal criminal charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, according to an unsealed indictment from the Department of Justice.

In the interview, Machado vowed to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible.” After previously staying in hiding for over a year, she escaped from the country and traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

She also said the opposition side will win “by over 90% of the votes” if elections were to be held. While speaking to NBC News, Trump said Venezuela will not have new elections in at least the next 30 days.

Machado initially rejoiced in a letter to the Venezuelan people after Trump announced the operation occurred on social media.

“The time for freedom has come!” Machado posted on X.

She went on to say that Maduro “will face international justice for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations.”