**Excerpt:** Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Trump, discussing her Nobel Prize and the political situation in Venezuela.
Key Points
– María Corina Machado offered to share her Nobel Prize with Trump for his actions in Venezuela.
– Trump has not endorsed Machado as a presidential candidate for Venezuela.
– Machado claims to represent the will of the Venezuelan people for a democratic transition.
– The U.S. has begun selling Venezuelan oil, completing a significant transaction this week.
– The Pentagon confirmed the seizure of multiple oil tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.
Meeting Details
President Trump hosted Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for lunch at the White House. Machado previously expressed her willingness to share her Nobel Prize with Trump, crediting him for his “historic” actions in helping remove Nicolás Maduro from power.
“I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him… the Venezuelan people want to give it to him and share it with him,” Machado stated in an interview. She emphasized the importance of Trump’s role in advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.
Political Context
Despite Machado’s recognition and her efforts to restore democracy, the Trump administration has maintained a cautious stance. The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro’s vice president, has received a favorable mention from Trump, who referred to her as a “terrific person.”
Trump has yet to endorse Machado as a potential leader of Venezuela, suggesting it could be “tough” for her due to a lack of support and respect within the country. However, Machado responded to these sentiments, asserting that “the people of Venezuela have already chosen.”
Nobel Prize Controversy
Following Machado’s offer regarding the Nobel Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified that the award cannot be shared or transferred. Machado received the Nobel for her role as a unifying figure in the Venezuelan opposition, which has been fragmented in its demands for free elections and representative governance.
U.S. Actions on Venezuelan Oil
On a related note, the Pentagon confirmed the seizure of yet another oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking at least the sixth such incident involving Venezuelan oil. This week, the U.S. officially commenced sales of Venezuelan oil, with a reported transaction valued at $500 million already completed. Trump indicated that the U.S. plans to sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil in the near future.
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