US President Trump meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado privately

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Meets with US President Trump at White House

Maria Corina Machado, leader of the Venezuelan opposition, met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders.

Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize during their private lunch meeting. According to Machado, she shared a historical anecdote about Simon Bolivar and the Marquis de Lafayette before presenting the prize. However, it is worth noting that the Nobel Committee has clarified that the prize is non-transferable and cannot be shared.

The meeting was unusual in that Trump did not hold a news conference with reporters as he typically does when hosting foreign leaders. Instead, the meeting took place behind closed doors. The White House has not released a formal statement about the meeting or its contents.

Machado’s visit to Washington, DC, comes amid ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the US over the country’s political situation. Machado’s opposition movement has faced significant challenges under President Nicolas Maduro’s rule, including allegations of human rights abuses and suppression of dissent.

As part of her efforts to advance Venezuelan democracy, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2023. She traveled to Norway to collect the medal before returning to Venezuela. Despite facing opposition from Maduro’s government, Machado remains a popular figure within the opposition movement.

The meeting between Trump and Machado coincided with the inaugural state of the union address by Delcy Rodriguez, who was backed by Trump as interim leader of Venezuela. The timing of the meeting may have contributed to its low-key nature.

Source: Al Jazeera