- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Praises Trump for 'Risking Lives' for Venezuela's Freedom
María Corina Machado says she has 'no regrets' over giving her Nobel Peace Prize medal to the U.S. president.
Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:10pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The symbolic handover of a Nobel Peace Prize medal reflects the complex and controversial nature of U.S. involvement in Venezuela's political crisis.NYC TodayVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he 'risked the lives of his country's citizens for Venezuela's freedom.' Machado symbolically handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump earlier this year, shortly after U.S. forces were ordered to carry out strikes on Venezuela and detain President Nicolás Maduro. Machado, who spent months in hiding before leaving Venezuela, is now coordinating plans for a possible return home with support from Washington.
Why it matters
Machado's praise for Trump's actions in Venezuela highlights the complex and controversial nature of U.S. involvement in the country's political crisis. While some Venezuelans view Trump's intervention as necessary to support the opposition against Maduro's authoritarian rule, others see it as an unwarranted and destabilizing foreign intrusion.
The details
In January, Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a meeting at the White House, shortly after U.S. forces were ordered to carry out strikes on Venezuela and detain President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently held in New York facing U.S. drug-related charges. Machado, who spent months in hiding before leaving Venezuela in December to collect her Nobel Prize in Oslo, said she is now coordinating plans for a return to Venezuela with support from Washington.
- In January, Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a meeting at the White House.
- Machado left Venezuela in December to collect her Nobel Prize in Oslo.
The players
María Corina Machado
A Venezuelan opposition leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and symbolically handed her medal to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Donald Trump
The former U.S. president who Machado praised for 'risking the lives of his country's citizens for Venezuela's freedom.'
Nicolás Maduro
The current president of Venezuela who is currently held in New York facing U.S. drug-related charges.
What they’re saying
“There is a leader in the world, a head of state in the world who risked the lives of his country's citizens for Venezuela's freedom.”
— María Corina Machado, Venezuelan Opposition Leader
What’s next
Machado said preparations are underway for a possible return to Venezuela, with support from Washington.
The takeaway
Machado's praise for Trump's actions in Venezuela highlights the complex and controversial nature of U.S. involvement in the country's political crisis, with some Venezuelans viewing it as necessary to support the opposition against Maduro's authoritarian rule, while others see it as an unwarranted and destabilizing foreign intrusion.
