Following Venezuela Victory: Opposition Leader Wants to Hand Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

The dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro from power has created a fascinating diplomatic ripple effect, as one of his most prominent rivals has stepped forward to credit the American president with a historic moral victory. Speaking from exile, María Corina Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her relentless opposition to the Venezuelan dictatorship, told international media that the events of January 3 mark a definitive turning point for global freedom. In an interview on Monday night, Machado went so far as to suggest that she would like to personally hand her Nobel Prize over to President Donald Trump, arguing that his bold military intervention achieved what most world leaders claimed was impossible.

Machado characterized the capture of Maduro by U.S. forces as a victory for human dignity that will resonate for generations. "January 3 will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny," Machado stated, adding that the move was a milestone not just for the Venezuelan people, but for humanity at large. She revealed that from the moment she was honored by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, she felt the recognition truly belonged to the American leader for his willingness to take decisive action. "As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to Trump because I knew at that point he deserved it," she explained.

While Machado is offering high praise, the political reality on the ground in Caracas remains complicated. Despite the capture of Maduro, the Trump administration has not yet moved to install Machado or other opposition figures into the presidency. Instead, Maduro’s longtime vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as the interim leader on Monday. This decision reportedly stems from a CIA assessment that suggested Rodríguez is better positioned to maintain short term order and prevent a civil war among the various security forces and paramilitary groups that remain active in the country. President Trump himself recently expressed some hesitation regarding Machado’s local standing, questioning if she currently has "the support of the people that she has to have."

As Machado frames the situation as an irreversible moral defeat for the old regime, Maduro continues to fight his legal battle from a jail cell in New York. During his first appearance in a Manhattan federal court, the former strongman appeared in chains and insisted he had been "kidnapped" by the U.S. military. He maintained his innocence against charges of narco-terrorism, telling the judge, "I am a decent man." Despite his defiance, the praise coming from the Venezuelan opposition suggests that the psychological grip of the Maduro era has been shattered, even as Washington treads carefully to ensure the transition doesn't collapse into further violence.