Trump accepts Nobel Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado

Asked this week if he wanted Machado to give him the prize, Trump told Reuters: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The meeting, which appeared to last slightly over an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person. Machado then met more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies.

While the visit was ongoing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to meeting Machado, but that he stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term.

Machado, who fled Venezuela in a daring seaborne escape in December, is competing for Trump’s ear with members of Venezuela’s government and seeking to ensure she has a future role in governing the nation.

After the US captured Venezuela’s long-time leader, Maduro, in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, various opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America have expressed hope that Venezuela will begin the process of democratisation.

Democratic senator Chris Murphy, who met Machado, said she had told senators that repression in Venezuela was no different now than under Maduro. Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez was a “smooth operator” who was growing more entrenched by the day thanks to Trump’s support, he said.

“I hope elections happen, but I’m sceptical,” Murphy, of Connecticut, said.

Trump has said he is focused on securing US access to Venezuela’s oil and economically rebuilding the country. He has on several occasions praised Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s second-in-command and who became Venezuela’s leader upon his capture. In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Trump said, “She’s been very good to deal with.”

Machado was banned from running in the 2024 presidential election by a top court stacked with Maduro allies. Outside observers widely believe Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition figure backed by Machado, won by a substantial margin, but Maduro claimed victory and retained power.

While the current government has freed dozens of political prisoners in recent days, outside groups and advocates have said the scale of the releases has been exaggerated by Caracas.

In an annual address to lawmakers, Rodriguez called for diplomacy with the US and said should she need to travel to Washington, she would do so “walking on her feet, not dragged there”.

She also said she would propose reforms to her country’s oil industry aimed at increasing access for foreign investors.