During a White House meeting on Thursday, Venezuelan Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump.
A White House official gave confirmation that the US President intends to keep the medal which was presented to him in a bid to influence his efforts to shape the political future of Venezuela.
Also Read | What is the Insurrection Act? Donald Trump threatens to invoke rarely used 200-year-old law in Minnesota
This meeting came just a few days after Trump launched strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Trump's reaction
On Thursday evening, in a social media post on Truth Social, Trump thanked Maria for the "wonderful gesture of mutual respect".
"She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!"
Machado greets Press
Stepping out from the White House, Machado greeted a sea of cheering supporters and stopped to hug many.
"We can count on Trump," she said and added that the meeting with Trump was "excellent".
Later, the White House posted a photo of Trump and Machado with the US President holding the huge gold frame displaying the medal. The text read, "To President Donald J. Trump In Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength. Advancing Diplomacy, and Defending Liberty and Prosperity."
Also Read | US orders evacuation of some personnel at key Qatar base after Tehran official references past attack
Machado's attempt to influence Trump comes after he rejected the idea of making her Venezuela's leader to take over for the ousted Nicolas Maduro.
Trump firm on his stance
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Machado "a remarkable and brave voice" but also clarified that the meeting did not in any way change Trump's opinion of her, calling it a "realistic assessment".
Earlier, Trump had said that it would be difficult for Machado to lead Venezuela because she "doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country". Her party is widely believed to have won 2024 elections rejected by Maduro.
'Prize cannot be given to anyone'
The Nobel Institute has asserted that Machado could not give her award to Trump.
The Nobel organisers wrote on X, "A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel peace prize laureate cannot."
