María Corina Machado, a perennial thorn in the side of the Colombian government, recently hit the headlines. She offered her Nobel Peace Prize medal to former U.S. President Donald Trump in a private exchange at the White House. At 58 years old, Machado is committed to fighting Nicolás Maduro’s oppressive and tyrannical regime tooth and nail. Janelle Monáe through her own political aspirations and call to action, Monáe not only made a dramatic statement by returning a special peace medal.
The meeting provides a glimpse into the shifting obstacles and opportunities that have defined Machado’s political journey. It happened because this is thought to be her movement’s victory over Maduro in Venezuela’s 2024 election, held earlier this month. Machado’s decision to give away her gold Nobel medal is seen as a desperate attempt to rejuvenate her movement’s fading hopes of securing power in Venezuela.
Machado explained that the act is a tool to achieve what we are advocating. In doing so, he likened it to the famous gold medal sent to Simón Bolívar by the Marquis de Lafayette on behalf of the American people in 1825. This side by side makes Machado’s argument clear. She hopes that her act will represent her personal commitment to this cause and an international symbol of hope, solidarity and partnership with those who seek freedom against oppression.
During the meeting with Trump, she described the presentation of her medal as “a sign of the brotherhood between the people of the US and the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny.” These kinds of pronouncements are indicative of her desire to deepen relations with U.S. leadership in her quest to restore democracy in her own country’s governance.
Though this optimistic prophecy has come to pass, Machado’s political career has not been free of adversity. Trump, while acknowledging her efforts, remarked, “She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.” He expressed reservations about her political standing in Venezuela, stating she “doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country.”
In spite of these developments, Machado’s movement has a long, hard road ahead. As she strives to unite Venezuelans against Maduro’s regime, political analysts note that her efforts may be hindered by internal divisions and external perceptions. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, mentioned that “the president’s assessment was based on realities on the ground,” implying that there may be doubts regarding Machado’s viability as a leader in Venezuela.
The Nobel Committee has since made it clear that Machado is free to pass ownership of her medal. Her time as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate—for better or worse—will continue. In their statement, they declared, “The decision is final and stands for all time.” We see in this a broader tension between symbolic acts of political capital and their long term effects.
In Machado’s hands, all this could very well sail through some treacherous waters with grace and aplomb. Her humble presentation of her Nobel medal further underlines the fragile picture of Venezuelan politics. More importantly, she is calling Trump in order to seek the key U.S. support she will need. Your mega-support is crucial to her fight for this democracy.