Trump accepts Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

January 15, 2026, 8:39 PM


President Donald Trump met Thursday with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. The president called it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect."

"María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done," Trump wrote on his social media platform. He also said that Machado was a "wonderful woman who has been through so much" and that it was a great honor to meet her.

Following the meeting, a White House official confirmed to ABC News that Trump did accept the medal.

Further details about the closed-door meeting were not immediately revealed by the White House. Asked about the meeting by ABC News' Mary Bruce, Trump said it went "great."


U.S. President Trump meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize, in Washington, D.C, U.S., released January 15, 2026.
Daniel Torok/the White House/via Reuters


Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-meet-venezuelan-opposition-leader-mara-corina-machado/story?id=129234741

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143592266
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143592978
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143595693
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143596507
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143596507

[C_U_L8R]

1. It looks like he wrote the inscription himself.

Or else she’s an accomplished ass kisser. Hope she likes extra aged roast beef.

[overleft]

7. Tell him to shove it where the sun don't shine and repubs can see it.

[Irish_Dem]

2. He extorts, coerces the medal from her and acts like he won himself.

[rampartd]

28. i have met some obnoxious bastards

why would someone do business with this guy much less vote for him?

[Irish_Dem]

36. Many Americans adore him.

Greatest moral collapse in US history.

[rampartd]

42. i just do not get it

[Mr.Bee]

55. Bribery

'please give me back my country'

[Irish_Dem]

60. Many Americans have been taught hatred, violence, lawlessness.

They have been to hate the "other" who must be destroyed at all costs.

Trump is the perfect embodiment of their values.

[videohead5]

3. Trump is now

The Milli Vanilli of peace prize owners.

[QueerDuck]

15. Excellent analogy! 😂😜🤣

[videohead5]

45. I saw it posted

Somewhere else. I thought that it was a good analogy that's why I posted it here and thanks to the person that originally thought of it.

[displacedvermoter]

23. George Santos is probably very proud!

[Ohioboy]

33. Good one!

[BumRushDaShow]

34. DUzy!

[Dave Bowman]

44. Lol, that's perfect.

[Haggard Celine]

4. By now, how can anyone like this guy?

He's the most self-centered man on the planet, and it's really embarrassing to watch.

[taxi]

5. Suggestion - regift to Putin

This one has lost its value.

[J_William_Ryan]

6. Machado panders to a fascist thug.

Clearly she’s in bed with the fascist right.

[hadEnuf]

58. Maybe, but maybe not.

Maybe she is trying to save her people and country from this maniacal and homicidal demon.

[MLWR]

8. The toddler now has his shiny new toy to play with and boast about.

It is not even in the least surprising that he sees no problem with the fact that HE DIDN'T EARN IT.

[Eugene]

9. A Nobel Peace Prize secured by crimes against peace and surrendered as a war prize.

Next question: will Dump threaten Norway now that the Nobel committee has denounced this farce?

[Callie1979]

10. Awww; a participation trophy! I thought they HATED those.

[myohmy2]

11. I wonder...

...if she gave him head too...

...

[Ray Bruns]

21. What's so stunning about a woman whoring herself to Trump? Melania has been doing it for years.

[EarlG]

12. And all he had to do was kill 40-80 people

in a military raid to get it.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. And also beg for it

(along with threatening the Committee in a variety of underhanded ways)

[OldBaldy1701E]

13. I am going to be sick. (n/t)

[QueerDuck]

16. It is disgusting. Was she paying a ransom? Or paying a bribe? Or was it simple extortion?

[Paladin]

18. Whatever it was, it worked.

Now every world leader, good and bad, has confirmation of what an easy mark is currently residing in what remains of the White House. Phenomenally pathetic---and very, very dangerous.

[Escurumbele]

17. What a surprise! He accepted the medal!...Please...of course he did, he has no shame.

[lonely bird]

19. Mutual respect?!

Thanks, Donnie. I needed a laugh.

[Ray Bruns]

20. What's so stunning about a woman whoring herself to Trump? Melania has been doing it for years.

[Vinca]

22. What a stupid cow.

[riversedge]

24. Trump being the stupid cow!!

[hamsterjill]

25. Like someone said elsewhere...

What next? A Super Bowl ring?

[Eugene]

29. Why not? Vladimir Putin stole one, so why be outdone?

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/heres-how-vladimir-putin-stole-a-super-bowl-ring-from-the-patriots-robert-kraft/

Basically, Dump "won" a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he "wins" at golf at his resorts.

[creon]

26. Meaningless

He won nothing.
He "won" a necklace.
el gringo loco is very needy.

Nobel commitee should make a secret decission that no American should NEVER get a Nobel Prize in any category.

[Gore1FL]

27. She didn't deserve it from this action alone.

I’m glad she doesn’t have the physical reward, and I am glad he will never be recognized as its recipient.
Fuck everyone involved.

[Kid Berwyn]

30. Something else he's got that he didn't earn.

Not only is trump the worst American ever, he’s the smallest person ever.

[no_hypocrisy]

31. Memo to Numbnutz:

You merely possess the symbolic award.

The Nobel Committee didn’t award it to you because you didn’t earn it and didn’t deserve it.

To reiterate Ed Koch’s assessment of you, Piggie, Piggie, Piggie!”

[Ferryboat]

32. Not quite Stolen Valor but close

Intimidating someone into giving up what you want doesn't make the stench go away.

[orangecrush]

35. ...

[Denvermosaic]

37. Mobster in chief

[bmichaelh]

38. Nobel rules

According to rules, award can neither be revoked or transferred.

Perhaps, it is time for Nobel to consider revoking awards in the future.

[underpants]

39. 🏆 Participation Trophy

[Xipe Totec]

40. In a separate ceremony, she gave him a good-boy gold star and placed it on his forehead. nt

[EarthFirst]

41. What.A.Fucking.Clown.

Someone please knock that shit eating grin off his mug?

[ToxMarz]

43. Trump is the International playground bully stealing everyone's lunch money

[Dave Bowman]

46. He looks so proud. What a pathetic little man.

[pansypoo53219]

47. she knows how to pacify a toddler.

[dalton99a]

48. ,

[Clouds Passing]

49. Crass, both of them

[travelingthrulife]

50. He murdered 100+ Venezuelan civilians and she rewards him for it.

[EX500rider]

64. I believe most were Cuban security officers & Venz military

Reported Casualties:
U.S. Officials: Roughly 75 people killed, including security forces and civilians.
Venezuela (Government): Minister Cabello reported over 100 deaths and a similar number injured.
Cuba: Confirmed 32 of their military and intelligence personnel were killed.
Venezuelan Military: The army posted a list of 23 service members killed.
Civilians: At least two civilian deaths identified.

[bromeando]

51. Nobel Prize

I think Machado was trying to curry favor with trump, hoping he'll appoint her President of Venezuela. She's got a long wait.

[utherpendragon]

52. The Wisdom of Solomon

And King Solomon ruled: give the child to the one willing to surrender her claim to it.

Peace, like love or life, is not owned by force—but recognized by restraint.

[Blue Owl]

53. Quite possibly THE most PATHETIC thing I have seen

[Hey Joe]

54. For all the good it will do her

He will still throw her under the bus the way he does all his sycophants.
Stupid move that will likely yield her nothing.

[Timewas]

56. LOL

He is just about the most pathetic peiceof shit I have seen in my 84 years on this planet, Talk about stolen valor...

[delisen]

57. Trump is now our "Secnd Hand Rose."

He scored a second hand, previously owned medal from a medalist who did not appreciate its worth

[Talitha]

59. At least now maybe he'll STFU about it.

[Bayard]

61. Next up:

Third rate dictator appears in public with Purple Heart, and various other medals, pinned to his wrinkled jacket.

[malthaussen]

62. May she receive in return what she truly deserves. n/t

[LetMyPeopleVote]

63. MaddowBlog-Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart

The president seems to prefer a model where others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors.

Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart:

He wants the honors without the sacrifice. He prefers a model in which others do the work and then generously turn over their awards to him, because, as he put it, it’s “much easier.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-16T16:59:30.116Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-received-a-nobel-peace-prize-the-same-way-he-received-a-purple-heart

That reminded me of a story from almost a decade ago. Politico published this report in August 2016:

Without setting foot on a battlefield, Donald Trump said he received a Purple Heart medal on Tuesday at his rally in Ashburn, Virginia, from a retired lieutenant colonel and supporter.

‘I said to him, “Is that like the real one, or is that a copy?”’ the Republican nominee said moments after taking the stage at a local high school. Trump recounted the exchange, remarking that the man, who he identified as retired Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman said, ‘That’s my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.’

“I always wanted to get the Purple Heart,” the then-candidate declared. “This was much easier.”

Purple Hearts are awarded to service members or their families after they’re wounded or killed in the course of their military service. Due to alleged “bone spurs” in his feet, Trump avoided military service, but by his own admission, he “always wanted to get the Purple Heart” anyway.

Having someone who actually served in the military hand him the honor was “much easier” for Trump than actually wearing the uniform and putting his life on the line.

With Machado, the story is similar: Trump wants the accolades without the sacrifice. He apparently prefers a model in which others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors to him, without him having to do anything to merit the award he covets.

But while the president will likely celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize that ended up in his possession, he’ll know — we all know — that there’s a dramatic difference between a gift and earned honors.

[COL Mustard]

65. I'm sure this tactic will endear him

To the nominating committee for the 2026 Peace Prize!

[BumRushDaShow]

66. He was always jealous and seething because Obama got one

and I don't think he'll ever live that down. But even worse, Obama now has 3 Emmys and 2 Grammys, neither of which 45 has, despite being a "television personality"!