Unexpected Generosity: Wong Applauds Machado's Surprising Nobel Prize Gesture to Trump

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Foreign Minister Penny Wong has praised Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for gifting her Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump, saying it was “very generous of her”.

Machado presented the prize to Trump during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House on Thursday. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.

In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!”

On Friday, Wong was asked if Trump was creating a world order in which “might was right” after the US captured deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a military operation earlier this month.

“Let me start by acknowledging Ms. Machado’s gesture in presenting the peace prize—it was indeed very generous,” she remarked.

Wong said the world was moving through a “time of great change” and the federal government was working to ensure peace and stability in our region.

“I’ve also expressed that we, as Australians, should have confidence in our shared ability to navigate these changes,” she continued.

Machado, who characterized the meeting as “excellent,” explained to reporters that her gesture was a nod to his dedication to the freedom of the Venezuelan populace.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado greeted supporters warmly after her meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

A middle-aged Latino woman waving to her supporters as she walks through a crowd.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado waves to supporters following her White House meeting with Donald Trump. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla

Her gesture appeared to be part of her effort to gain influence over the future direction of her country.

Trump openly campaigned for the prize before Machado was awarded it last month.

Asked on Wednesday if he wanted Machado to give him the prize, Trump said: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

First meeting with Trump

The lunch meeting, which appeared to last slightly over an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person.

Machado then met with more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies.

While the visit was ongoing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to meeting Machado, but that he stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term.

After the US captured Maduro, in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, various opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America have expressed hope that Venezuela will start the process of democratisation.

“I know the president was looking forward to this meeting, and he was expecting it to be a good and positive discussion with Ms Machado, who is really a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela,” Leavitt told reporters during a briefing as the meeting was ongoing.

Earlier on Thursday, US officials said they had seized another Venezuela-linked tanker.

The seizure marks the sixth vessel targeted since mid-December that was either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past. The officials, speaking to Reuters news agency on the condition of anonymity, said the seizure took place in the Caribbean.

The US military’s Southern Command confirmed the pre-dawn operation, saying US forces apprehended tanker Veronica “without incident”. It said the Veronica was “operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean”.