“Heir of Washington”: Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Elevates Trump with Nobel Gift

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado bestowed the title “heir of Washington” upon President Donald Trump this Thursday, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. The dramatic scene played out during their first-ever meeting at the White House. Machado emerged to tell the press that the gift was a historic repayment from the people of Venezuela to the United States.
The comparison was rooted in the friendship between the Marquis de Lafayette and Simon Bolivar. Machado detailed how Lafayette had supported Venezuela’s independence struggle by gifting a medal to Bolivar. By returning the gesture two centuries later, Machado sought to place Trump in the lineage of great revolutionary leaders, appealing to his sense of history and legacy.
This flattery comes with a tangible reward: the physical Nobel medal that Trump has openly coveted. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee dampened the implication that Trump is now a winner. They stated firmly that the prize is non-transferable and that the winner’s name stands for all time, characterizing the transfer as purely symbolic.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of complex U.S. maneuvering. Trump has previously questioned Machado’s ability to command respect in Venezuela. Simultaneously, he has pressured interim president Delcy Rodriguez to benefit U.S. oil firms, using threats of force as leverage. This dual track suggests Trump is keeping all options open.
Despite the President’s transactional reputation, Machado expressed total confidence in his support. “We are counting on President Trump,” she declared, emphasizing his care for the suffering Venezuelan populace. The medal serves as a high-value token in her effort to secure the “heir of Washington’s” loyalty.