Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, announced that she is willing to personally meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and award him the Nobel Peace Prize.
In an interview with Fox News, Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, enthusiastically praised Donald Trump, though she acknowledged that she has not formally offered him the Nobel Peace Prize. She said, “It hasn’t happened yet, but I would certainly like to tell him personally that we, the people of Venezuela since this prize belongs to the Venezuelan people will definitely give it to him and share it with him.”
Two sources close to the White House told The Washington Post that by accepting the Nobel Prize herself instead of awarding it to Trump, Machado had reportedly “angered” him. One source said, “If she had refused the prize and said, ‘I cannot accept it because this prize belongs to Donald Trump,’ she would be the president of Venezuela today.”
Machado emphasized her intention to return to Venezuela as soon as possible and strongly criticized Delcy Rodríguez, the interim president of Venezuela.
Regarding Rodríguez, she said, “She is one of the main architects of torture, harassment, oppression, corruption, and drug trafficking,” and asserted that Rodríguez has been “rejected by the Venezuelan people.”
Machado added, “In a free and fair election, we will win with over 90 percent of the vote; I have no doubt about this.”
She also pledged to “turn Venezuela into the energy hub of the Americas” and to dismantle “all these criminal structures” that have harmed the Venezuelan people. Additionally, she promised to bring “millions of Venezuelans who were forced to leave their country” back home.
Trump had previously stated that Machado does not have the popular support necessary to lead Venezuela.
