Machado announced the awarding of the Nobel medal to Trump during a conversation with reporters and a crowd of her supporters outside the Capitol, where she met with a group of senators.
When was the Nobel medal awarded to Trump?
Who presented the Nobel medal to Donald Trump?
What are Maria Corina Machado's expectations for Venezuela?
What did White House spokeswoman say about Delcy Rodriguez?
— Yes, I presented President Trump with the Nobel Prize (…) in recognition of his exceptional dedication to our freedom, said the oppositionist. She said that when giving the medal, she told Trump that it was a symbolic gesture for her, because 200 years earlier, the French commander in the American War of Independence, General Lafayette, presented a medal with the image of George Washington to Simon Bolivar, the father of Venezuela's independence, as a gesture of the common fight of Americans and Venezuelans against tyranny.
— 200 years later, Bolivar's nation also gives Washington's nation a medal — this time the Nobel Peace Prize medal — she added.
Maria Corina Machado on Trump: he changed the course of history
During a meeting on Capitol Hill with senators from both parties, Machado said she was very grateful to Trump and noted that his intervention on January 3 changed Venezuela's history forever and for good. She also said that the Trump administration is aware that in order for 8 million Venezuelan emigrants to return to the country, “institutions must be rebuilt, human rights must be respected, freedom of speech guaranteed, the rule of law and a new authentic electoral process.”
“I have pushed and will continue to push for Venezuela to have an elected president, and I feel proud to be working with him,” she said, referring to Edmund Gonzalez, the opposition candidate widely considered to have won the last presidential election in Venezuela.
At the same time, Rodriguez emphasized her distrust towards Delcy Rodriguez, who temporarily became head of state after the US removed from power and captured Nicolas Maduro. She noted that Rodriguez is part of the old regime and that “the only thing the regime knows how to do effectively is play for time and take advantage of good faith efforts.” She also added that national reconciliation cannot occur without justice and deep reform of the country. — Who will invest in Venezuela if there is no independent judiciary and property rights are not respected? she asked.
During his visit to Washington, Machado was accompanied by crowds of supporters singing Venezuelan songs and shouting slogans of “freedom” and “free political prisoners.”
Venezuela at the crossroads. Donald Trump on the role of a Nobel laureate
Donald Trump has not yet commented on the meeting with Machado, but White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the president has not changed his mind that the Nobel laureate is unable to govern Venezuela.
— The president's assessment (…) was based on the realities on the ground. It was a realistic assessment based on what the president read and heard from his advisers and national security team, she added. Leavitt emphasized that the current interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, is cooperating very well with the Trump administration.
— The interim government in Venezuela has been extremely cooperative and has so far met all demands and requests from the United States and the president. And I think you've all seen this happen. Of course, we had the $500 million energy deal that was done largely because of Ms. Rodriguez's cooperation. Venezuela and Ms. Rodriguez also confirmed that political prisoners would be released, the spokeswoman said.
