Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she wants to hand over her Nobel Peace Prize to the US President Donald Trump, thanking him for his actions regarding Venezuela.
She said this in an interview with Fox News.
Machado called Trumpʼs moves "a huge step for humanity, freedom and dignity".
"I would really like to tell him personally that this award, which belongs to all the Venezuelan people, that I would certainly like to present it to him, to share it with him. What he has done is a huge step towards a democratic country," she said.
Machado also reported that she last spoke with Donald Trump on October 10, 2025 — the day the Nobel Peace Prize was reported — and after that, there was no further contact.
The opposition figure, seen as a main rival to Nicolas Maduro, left Venezuela for Norway last month to receive an award and has not returned since. At the same time, she said she plans to return to the country "as soon as possible".
Donald Trump previously said he did not see Machado as a key figure for cooperation, claiming that she “does not have enough support in the country”. Despite this, Machado stressed that US actions towards Venezuela are “principled” for the fight for democracy.
The US operation in Venezuela
At least seven explosions rocked Caracas, Venezuela, on the night of January 3. Several military installations in the country were targeted on the orders of US President Donald Trump, including the La Carlota and Fuerte Tiuna air bases, the La Guaira seaport, the home of the defense minister, and the El Volcán signal antenna.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared a state of emergency across the country. At least 11 sites are estimated to have been attacked, including the parliament building.
The New York Times, citing a Venezuelan official, writes that at least 40 people have been killed in the US attack on Venezuela. Among the victims are both military and civilians. At the same time, Donald Trump stated that no American military personnel were injured.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were arrested and deported to the United States. They were charged with narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, illegal possession of machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy against the United States.
Trump said that the United States plans to govern Venezuela until it can ensure a "safe, orderly, and prudent transition of power", and is also prepared for a second, more powerful attack on Venezuela, but that there is no need for this at this time.
In addition, according to Trump, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said that Caracas is ready to cooperate with Washington "to make Venezuela ʼgreat againʼ". Rodriguez herself said that Maduro is the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Because of this, Trump said that she could pay an even greater price than Maduro if she "doesnʼt do the right thing".
Subsequently, the Supreme Court of Venezuela appointed Rodriguez as the countryʼs interim leader. And on the evening of January 3, Nicolas Maduro was taken to the federal detention center, the Metropolitan Detention Center, in New York.
On Monday, January 5, Venezuelan authorities issued a Saturday decree declaring a state of emergency and ordering police to detain anyone who supports the armed attack by the United States.
On January 5, the first trial of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores took place in New York.
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