Frozen Out of Trump’s Venezuela Plans, Maria Corina Machado Offers to Share Peace Prize

Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has made a striking diplomatic gesture after being excluded from former US President Donald Trump’s plans for the future of Venezuela. Machado announced that she is willing to dedicate and share her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, despite indications from Washington that she would not play a role in shaping the country’s post-crisis leadership.

The move comes in the aftermath of the dramatic US operation that led to the capture of Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro. In the hours following Maduro’s capture, Machado publicly declared that Venezuela was entering a new era, stating that “the hour of freedom has arrived” after years of repression and political turmoil. Her remarks were widely interpreted as a signal that the opposition was ready to assume leadership in the oil-rich South American nation.

However, expectations of Machado emerging as a central figure in Washington’s Venezuela strategy were soon dashed. Trump made it clear in public remarks that he did not see her as a viable leader, claiming that she lacked sufficient domestic support and respect within Venezuela. The statement effectively sidelined Machado from US-backed plans for the country’s political transition.

Despite this setback, Machado adopted a conciliatory tone. In an interview with Fox News, she revealed that she had already dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, saying she believed his actions deserved global recognition. Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her sustained opposition to what the Norwegian Nobel Committee described as authoritarian rule in Venezuela.

“As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to President Trump,” Machado said, referring to the US-led operation in Caracas. She described the events of January 3 as historic, asserting that they marked the moment when justice triumphed over tyranny. According to her, the operation was not only significant for Venezuela but also represented a broader milestone for humanity.

Machado added that she had spoken to Trump on October 10, the day the Nobel Prize was announced, but had not been in contact with him since then. She confirmed that she remains committed to Venezuela’s future and said she is planning to return to the country after travelling to Norway last month to accept the award.

Trump, meanwhile, rejected suggestions that Machado was excluded from leadership considerations because she had won the Nobel Peace Prize — an honour he has long expressed interest in receiving himself. Responding to media reports, Trump said her award had no bearing on his decision, adding that she “should not have won it” but insisting that this was unrelated to Washington’s Venezuela policy.

Speculation over Venezuela’s leadership direction intensified as political developments unfolded rapidly. The uncertainty ended when Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president. Rodríguez, a long-time deputy of Maduro, indicated a willingness to engage with Washington, aligning with Trump’s earlier suggestion that the US could work with figures from within the existing power structure.

Machado’s public overture to Trump has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a strategic attempt to remain relevant amid shifting geopolitical realities, while critics argue it reflects the diminishing influence of the traditional opposition in shaping Venezuela’s future. Analysts note that the episode underscores the complexities of international intervention, where domestic opposition figures may find themselves sidelined despite years of resistance.

As Venezuela enters an uncertain transitional phase, Machado’s gesture highlights both her determination to stay engaged and the limits of her leverage in a landscape increasingly shaped by external power dynamics. Whether her outreach will alter Washington’s approach remains unclear, but the episode has added a dramatic personal dimension to an already volatile geopolitical moment.