Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in what officials described as a positive meeting. However, Trump’s public remarks about Machado’s political standing and her Nobel Peace Prize sparked new debate. He said that even though President Nicolás Maduro had been ousted, Venezuelans did not fully support Machado, and hinted at maintaining contact with Maduro’s deputy Delcy Rodríguez due to U.S. energy interests.

Machado, seeking to strengthen her political position, proposed sharing her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, who said he would be honored to accept it. The Norwegian Nobel Committee later clarified that the prize cannot be shared or transferred. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said this was their first direct meeting since the January 3 U.S. military operation to detain Maduro. The two discussed Venezuela’s political situation and possible future elections, though no timeline was given.

Machado, who remains in exile after receiving her Nobel Prize in Oslo last month, met supporters outside the White House and called for restoring democracy in Venezuela.