Maria Machado Says She Would ‘Love To' Share Nobel Peace Prize With Trump
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she would "certainly love" to personally give President Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that Venezuelans believe Trump deserves to share the honor for his role in the collapse of Nicolás Maduro's regime.
Machado made the remarks during a Monday night appearance on Hannity, following U.S. air strikes over the weekend that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Why It Matters
Machado's comments come as questions swirl around Venezuela's political future after Maduro's removal-and after Trump publicly dismissed the idea of Machado serving as an interim leader. Her effusive praise of Trump also underscores how central his role has become in shaping post-Maduro power dynamics, even as his actions draw sharp criticism over congressional authorization, regime change and U.S. foreign policy precedent.
What To Know
Speaking to Hannity on Fox News, Machado said she dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump immediately upon learning she had won it, arguing that his actions against Maduro marked a historic turning point.
"As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated to Trump because I knew at that point, he deserved it," Machado said, referring to the U.S. military operation that culminated in Maduro's capture.
Hannity pressed Machado on reports that Trump had declined to support her as Venezuela's interim leader in part because she accepted the Nobel Prize rather than deferring it to him. Trump publicly reinforced that position the day after the strikes, saying it would be "very tough for her to be the leader" and claiming she lacked sufficient support inside the country.
Machado told Hannity she last spoke to Trump on October 10, the day the Nobel prizes were announced, and said she remains grateful for what she described as his "courageous vision" and "historical actions" against what she called "narco-terrorists" within the Venezuelan regime.
Asked directly whether she had offered to give Trump the Nobel Prize, Machado replied that while it had not yet happened, she hoped it would.
"I would certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we believe-the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people-certainly want to give it to him and share it with him," she said.
Hannity framed Machado's dedication of the prize as unusual, noting that she had publicly said Trump "deserved it more than I do," a gesture he highlighted as rare between leaders of different countries.
Machado also told Hannity that she plans to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible”.
What People Are Saying
María Corina Machado on X in October after wining the Nobel Peace Prize: “We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy. I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!”
President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he did not see Machado as a potential replacement for Nicolás Maduro: “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” Trump said, adding that he thought she was a “very nice woman” when addressing the potential for her to take power.
What Happens Next
With Maduro now in custody, the focus is shifting to who will govern Venezuela and how the transition will unfold.
Trump's public rejection of Machado as an interim leader has complicated succession plans, even as she remains one of the country's most internationally recognized opposition figures.
Whether Machado's overtures to Trump will alter his stance-or reshape Washington's preferred path forward for Venezuela-remains unclear, as debates continue in the U.S. over the legality, consequences and long-term strategy behind the intervention.
Newsweek
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 12:10 AM.